The marketing of Ripon as a place to shop was launched on the steps of the cathedral on Wednesday and follows a month which saw trader confidence dip as three city centre shops announced they were to close.

Hornblower George Pickles and the Mayor of Ripon, Coun Sid Hawke, gathered with museum and county council representatives to launch the brochures which will be distributed in shops, hotels and tourist attractions around North Yorkshire.

Coun Hawke said: "We are hoping to make Ripon a more vibrant and busier place.

"People round here are very friendly and the shops are full of wonderful things to buy."

'open for business'

The Mayor admitted the traffic situation in Ripon had caused problems but added 'Ripon is now open for business'.

"The big fightback begins now and we will do everything in our power to get Ripon back on track," he said.

George Pickles added: "I think the mistake some people have made in Ripon is that they have talked too much about the problems and that will deter people from coming.

"It's time to start pointing out the good things and today is the start of that."

brochures

The brochures have been financed by Ripon Ring, a group comprising tourist attractions in and around the city, and 10,000 are expected to be distributed over the coming weeks.

County Coun Bernard Bateman, who has been involved in the marketing campaign, said the priority was to get shoppers from outlying areas back in to the city.

"I think the first free parking Tuesday went well but we have to get the word out to the rural areas that parking is free to get people back into Ripon," he said, "That's the whole point of the exercise."

Shop owners in Ripon welcomed the day of free parking despite a slow start to the scheme.

'good idea'

Karen Nutbrown of Jon Barrie menswear, in Market Place, said: "Takings were pretty much the same as they were on this day last year. They were up a little but not a great deal.

"But I think it's a good idea and would like to see it continue - it should make a difference."

Claire Morgan of Morgans Tea Rooms in Kirkgate, said: "There was no difference really but we have had a good week all week because of the races."

Mrs Morgan also welcomed the lifting of the present parking restrictions. "People have to leave here all the time without having a pudding because their parking is about to run out," she said.

With the free parking now in place throughout the summer and a visitor discount scheme being offeredin some shops, Coun Bateman is looking to the next stage of the campaign.

"The next thing is the development of creating a Ripon marketing group which brings together the city council, Ripon Area Business Association, Ripon Ring, the City Partnership and traders to look at ways of marketing Ripon in the future," he said.