A POPULAR street lined with independent traders will close to traffic this weekend to celebrate its varied businesses.

Shoppers can walk down Fossgate on Saturday and be free from passing cars and bikes as the range of shops, bars and cafes bring their produce and products into the street.

Fossgate Merchants Quarter Traders Association (FMQTA), who are organising the festivals between May and December, hope the full closure will see more people shop in the street and find out more about what the outlets offer.

A letter sent to businesses, and seen by The Press, said: "The closures will allow for businesses and creatives in Fossgate to bring their produce onto the street and establish it as more of a destination for visitors and residents over the summer months."

Zoe Plummer, chairman of FMQTA, said: "We are showcasing what Fossgate has to offer.

"It's a fantastic street with independent shops, which is what York is all about.

"Having lots of road closures can be a double-edged sword, but hopefully we will have people heading down Fossgate because we have a lot more on offer than just shops."

Sally Wilson, owner of Swirl, helped to organise the event, set to take place in June, July, August, September and December.

She said: "We were looking at the street and thinking how we can work together, but with the Tour de Yorkshire our street is effectively closed and we wanted to take advantage of that.

"Businesses will be bringing things into the street, there will be a BBQ, paella and drinks.

"For years people have asked if Fossgate should be pedestrianised or not, so this should show what that could be like.

"It will show what Fossgate is like every single day and make them aware of what we have done in the street, and how it's different to the main stream."

Cat Armitage, manager, Give The Dog A Bone, said: "It's a really good idea.

"We have done a couple of car free days in the past and they have always been well received, so I think this will be great.

"Anything which makes people more aware of the street and gets people here is a good thing because we have been here 11 years but people keep coming in and asking if we've just opened."