SOME eye-catching costumes were on view yesterday as fundraisers sold tickets for a charity treasure hunt.

And Olivia Brefitt and Kathryn Smith chose to wear pirate costumes - although they were asking people for their money in the nicest possible way.

The York Urgent Humanitarian Response Team, formed after the Asian tsunami disaster, has organised the Great York Treasure Hunt to raise cash for the appeal.

More than 70 local businesses have donated prizes to the hunt. People who buy tickets are given a map showing participating shops, which are displaying winning numbers in their windows.

Anyone with a matching ticket number can claim their prize at the shop.

Treasure hunt organisers are hoping to raise about £1,000 from the event, for which tickets are on sale in Oxfam bookshops in Micklegate and Low Petergate, as well as the local tourist information centres.

Organisers will also be on the streets today selling tickets before the hunt comes to an end tomorrow.