One of a North city's leading attractions is to get a makeover.

Ripon hornblower Alan Oliver, who has been carrying out the nightly task for almost 20 years, will soon be wearing a new made-to-measure ceremonial frock coat.

The fawn, knee-length coat, trimmed on the collar and cuffs with red, makes him a distinctive figure as he steps into the Market Place to blow the horn at the four corners of the obelisk.

Ripon City councillors gave the go-ahead for a new coat after being told the present garb was becoming a bit worse for wear and not quite in keeping with the ancient tradition.

A specialist firm, which manufactures military uniforms, has been given the task of making the coat, although the final cost is not yet known.

Ripon's hornblowing tradition has continued without a break for 1,100 years.

The ancient ceremony, performed at 9pm, is known as "setting the watch", originally introduced to tell citizens all was well in the city for the night.

Particularly in summer months, tourists often gather on the square to see the ceremony and hear the hornblower explain the background to its tradition, which is a jealously guarded Ripon event.