VISITORS to the Museum Gardens this weekend spotted a familiar face in the grounds of the historic site.

Former Tory MP and train fanatic Michael Portillo was in the city filming York Historic Capital of the North for a new DVD charting the Medieval history seen around the various attractions.

The presenter of the BBC's Great British Railway Journeys explored the Roman, Anglo Saxon, Viking and Norman influence inside the city walls.

Mr Portillo, a fomer MP for Enfiled Southgate was joined in the gardens by The 6th Legion re-enactment group at the Multiangular Tower.

Viewers of the show, which is being made available for television, dvd and Blu Ray release will be given a tour of York Minster and Jorvik Viking Centre, before being transported back to the city's Debtors Prison at The Castle Museum to learn the fate of York's most notorious criminal.

At Clifford's Tower, Mr Portillo and local guide Mark Graham will discuss one of York's darkest episodes, the anti-semetic riots of 1190 in which hundreds of city Jews perished.

The show closes with the presenter and narrator climbing on board Queen Victoria's favourite Royal Carriage to relive the experience of Victorian royal travel.