ONE of the region's cathedrals will not be charging entry fees, despite it costing £3,000 a day to run.

Ripon Cathedral has said it will not be following York Minster's decision to charge visitors, but will continue its policy of asking for a voluntary contribution of £3.

It is estimated the cathedral attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year. Numbers have risen since Ripon was included in the Yorkshire Dales tourist area and promoted as the cathedral city of the Dales.

The Dean of Ripon Cathedral, the Very Reverend John Methuen, said: "I don't think it is inevitable for us to charge. In fact we will try everything within reason to avoid charging."