ONLY a few years ago, it was losing more than half a million pounds a year - but today York Minster revealed it was back in the black.

Accounts for the cathedral have revealed that it enjoyed a surplus in the last financial year of £177,000.

The Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said the turnaround had resulted from an increase in legacies and income from visitors, and better returns from properties and investments - along with savings in maintenance and upkeep costs.

He revealed that the Minster received about £190,000 in legacies alone during the year 2005/06.

And income from visitors rose by £73,000 to £1,558,000, although the net overall improvement was only £45,000 after allowing for an increase in visitor-related costs. And figures for the current year so far continued to be encouraging.

The figures are revealed in the Minster's annual review and accounts for 2005-06, which have just been published.

The report said the latest figures continued an encouraging trend. "Work does continue, however, towards securing the longer-term financial stability."

It said new income from various Minster shops was little changed from 2004/05. "After a disappointing start to the year, trade picked up and continues to be encouraging.

"The new outlet in Minster Gates, trading as York Minster Gifts, has been a success, providing the Dean and Chapter with a further source of revenue."

It said that refurbishment work on the East Front had cost £193,000, but this had been met from funds raised specifically for the purpose.

The Minster's financial troubles earlier this decade led it to the controversial decision to introduce compulsory admission charges - albeit with exceptions for York residents and anyone attending services. Some visitors and churchgoers criticised a charge on people trying to enter a place of worship.

Asked if people now accepted the charges, the Dean said: "There's an underlying sense that there is something not quite right about it."

However, he felt charges had led to an improved atmosphere in a cathedral which had at times in the past had the feeling of a busy market or railway station.

And he said the Minster had no option but to charge unless the state agreed to assist more with funding of historic buildings which were used as places of worship.