Website launched by parade of shops

The profile of the city's Bishopthorpe Road area is being raised through a promotional drive that will see the launch of a new website, bishyroad.net, today.

The online publicity campaign is hoping to attract more customers to the diverse range of businesses along the parade of shops, as well as publicising community groups in the area.

The website was the brainchild of Andy Shrimpton and Piers Maffett, who own the Cycle Heaven bicycle store, and has cost about 1,500 to set up.

Mr Shrimpton, who launched his bicycle store in 1993, said: "The diversity of the shops along Bishopthorpe Road is far greater than you would get in your average high street, and there is a real excellence here as well – the traders really are the best at what they do."

More than 30 traders have signed up to the website.