TOURISM chiefs are urging traders to embrace the euro after one of York's smallest museums started accepting the currency.

The Richard III Museum, in Monk Bar, is taking euros and is giving change in sterling.

The move follows the drive by tourism bosses to target European visitors in the wake of the September 11 atrocities and the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

Museum manager Mike Bennett said: "Perhaps York's future, tourism-wise, lies in attracting European visitors, rather than hoping that Americans start to return. The least we can do is attempt to make then feel welcome.

"It's unlikely that any European visitors to York will have no euros with them, so they may as well be encouraged to part with them."

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said several tourist attractions had started accepting euros, including the tourist information centre and York Boat.