York Business Pride, an initiative which aims to involve local businesses in improving the city at street level, has reached its first funding milestone. Pledges to support the initiative now total over £100,000.

The speed with which the landmark figure has been reached has delighted organisers - the scheme was launched less than two months ago as part of City of York Council's York Pride initiative. Well-known York company Jarvis plc is the latest donor, pledging £3,000 each year for the next three years.

Peter Richardson, director of Jarvis, said: "We wholeheartedly support and welcome this initiative. Jarvis is a major employer in the city and it is important to attract and retain staff - it is a beautiful city and we want to keep it that way."

Adam Sinclair, chairman of the York Business Pride Board, said: "I am amazed and delighted that we have managed to reach a figure of £100,000 after such a short time. The response from the business community has been amazing and its great that its not just York's larger employers who are getting involved."

Businesses can get involved in the initiative in five different ways ranging from simply agreeing to keep their premises clean and tidy, to sponsor all or part of a scheme.

Funding has already been used to provide a 'last-minute' Christmas tree for St Sampson's Square, re-vamping the Memorial Gardens and sponsoring the council's new Gum Busting machine.