A POPULAR scheme to help tourists make the most of their trip to an historic city is celebrating its tenth anniversary.

York's Visitor Information Patrol (VIP) is nearing the end of another nine-week stint, which has run from July 2 to September 2.

York Tourism Bureau recruits and manages a team of seven VIPs each year, equipping them with a bright yellow uniform and information barrow and sending them out into the city.

The team answers an estimated 100,000 questions from visitors every summer.

This year saw a record number of applications for the jobs, with entries coming from as far afield as Mexico and Japan.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "Our success is largely due to the enthusiasm of the VIPs.

"Over 80 per cent of York's visitors have visited the city before and we believe that by offering a warm welcome and excellent customer service, visitors will continue to come back again and again."