A tradition is being revived this year for the York Mystery Plays.

For the first time in 14 years, the plays will tour through the city streets before finishing spectacularly at the Museum Gardens.

The York Wagon Plays production has been initiated by the city guilds and is being organised in association with the York Early Music Festival.

The plays will be presented on wagons in the streets from midday to 6.30pm on July 7 and 14. This year's event is separate from the four-yearly cycle of Mystery Plays, next presented in 2004.

Plays will be performed by ten groups on wagons drawn through the city streets, ending up in the Museum Gardens. They were last staged in the gardens in 1988 when Victor Bannerjee took on the role of Christ.

Director Mike Tyler said: "We are absolutely thrilled to be able to present these remarkable plays at such an exceptional venue."

Access is free, but limited seating will be available in covered stands in the Dean's Park and Museum Gardens.

Booking for those tickets will open on April 9 at the National Centre for Early Music box office on (01904) 658338.