York Minster will be lit up in a different way this month with lanterns decorated by local school children.

York Minster Community Engagement Officer Helen Moore has enlisted the help of local artist Griselda Goldbrough to run lantern workshops with 100 pupils from Tang Hall Primary School, Derwent Infant and Junior School, Clifton Green Primary and Haxby Road Primary School.

The children are painting their self-portraits onto the lanterns, which will be then be hung beneath the central tower to light up the cathedral for the four-evening York Minster Nights event.

"The aims of the project are to build upon the relationships we have with four local schools who took part in the 'Minster on the Move' schools outreach project in 2012-2013," said Moore.

"Each contributing pupil and their family have been invited to celebrate York Minster Nights, to see their handiwork and further develop a connection with their cathedral by experiencing York Minster in a new light."

Goldbrough added: "The design of the lanterns helps children to understand their place in the world, with the portrait depicting what and who they are now, and then words are added to reflect their views of the past, present and future."

York Minster Nights is being held as part of the Illuminating York festival from October to 2 November and will also feature live street art in the Nave and screen-printing.

Participating artists include Joy Gilleard and Neil Parkinson of the Leeds-based arts co-operative, Black Rose, alongside renowned street artist Inkie, who has been described as Banksy's 'right-hand-man'.

York Minster Nights runs from 6.00pm on 30 and 31 October and 7.00pm on 1 & 2 November, with last admissions at 8.30pm. Admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 for children. Ticketholders also receive 50% discount off daytime admission to the Minster. Tickets are available online at www.yorkminster.org , by calling the Box Office on 01904 557208 or from the York Minster admissions desks.