Journalist

A new festival has been hailed a success after attracting folklore fans to the city. Some of folk horror's leading authors were in the city for the Festival of Hauntology which was held at York St John University last weekend, March 21 and 22, as part of the York Literature Festival. This year’s line-up included Lucy Rose, Lucie McKnight Hardy, Ramsey Campbell and Dan Coxon.

An art installation that aims to highlight a “deprived” street in York has been unveiled. ‘Swarmgate’, created by Pocklington artist Gemma Wood, was lit up on Thursday 11 December. It features two large hives of resin-cast bees powered by solar electricity, and can be seen on the side of buildings in Huby Court on Walmgate. Gemma was inspired, she said, by York’s “rich” beekeeping history. “Bees are essentially the epitome of community. They all work together for a common goal,” she said.

A York woman who has turned her home into a Halloween grotto for almost four decades has said she will be "doing this for the rest of my life". Lynda Starkey, 75, is busy with preparations at her home in Kingsway West, Acomb, ahead of October 31. “I will be doing this for the rest of my life,” she said. “I’m still fit and healthy. If I can climb a ladder, I’ll be putting the decorations up.”