YORK has been named Britain's top city in a magazine's Best of British awards competition.

The tourism awards followed voting by readers of Period Living and Traditional Homes magazine.

The magazine, which features tips on decorating and restoring traditional homes, asked readers to vote for their favourite place in a number of categories and York came out as the best city.

Lord Mayor of York Janet Looker put the city's success down to its size.

"York is a wonderful place to live, as those of us who have lived here for many years can confirm," she said.

"But it is very flattering to find that other people are sharing our opinion.

"It is a very human size. It is not so vast that you feel you are living in a little isolated corner of it.

"You can live in your own bit of York, but at the same time you can feel a part of the city."

York was not the only place in the region to be honoured in the awards.

Beamish Museum, near Stanley, County Durham, was named the country's best museum or art gallery.

The good news came weeks after museum officials said they would be facing a tough year unless councils agreed to a big increase in funding.

They have asked eight of the region's councils for a total of £193,900 towards the museum's annual running costs of £3.5m.

A reclamation yard in Boldon, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, was another surprise winner in the awards.

G O'Brien and Sons topped the best salvage or reclamation yard category.

The Lake District was named the country's most impressive area of outstanding natural beauty and Low Sizergh Barn, Sizergh, near Kendal, Cumbria, was voted top tea shop.