THE festival which last year bathed York Minster in a myriad of colours is back and this time the city is to play its part in a county-wide phenomenon.

City chiefs have teamed up with councils across the whole of Yorkshire to brand October 6 Light Night - an event which will throw the spotlight on the region's creativity in a completely new way.

A "brilliant" close is anticipated with some of York's finest buildings illuminated for residents and tourists to see.

In York, there will be guided tours of the city walls, architectural trips, a circuit of churches and a poetry pub tour.

Artists and storytellers will be performing in 11 of York's medieval churches, while the highlight is a special virtual light game in Davygate square.

The Five Courts, which is being played out in Bradford, Hull, Leeds, Sheffield and York sees people use their bodies to send balls of projected light across a playing space, with the aim to score virtual goals against your opposition.

Last year, one of the highlights of the festival was Patrice Warrener's spectacular projection of colour on to York Minster - a light scene which brought thousands of night-time visitors to the Gothic cathedral. The display formed the centrepiece of the whole event.

Keith Jeffrey, director of Illuminate Festival, said: "Light Night is a fantastic opportunity to see the very best of our cultural life.

"There is an amazing programme of activities for all ages and nearly all of them are free, from monumental illuminations to treasure hunts, free books and a unique interactive regional game.

"Yorkshire is an amazing place to live and Light Night is a great way to see our major cities in a completely different light."

York will also play host to an illuminated architectural trail around some of the city's most famous buildings.