Umbrellas art covers Clifford's Tower in York

The tower was used as a store for gunpowder and munitions in the 17th Century

An art installation of 45 colourful umbrellas has covered a medieval tower in York for the first time in more than 400 years.

The umbrellas have been suspended within the walls of Clifford's Tower.

The tower, which was used as a store for gunpowder and munitions in the 17th Century, has been left uncovered since an explosion blew off the roof in 1684.

Site manager Louise Wyatt said: "The idea [for the project] came out of the rather damp summer that we've had.

"Someone joked that it would be wonderful to have a huge umbrella over the open courtyard and then we started thinking about what else could be done with umbrellas.

"We found some pictures online of streets in Europe that had been covered with suspended umbrellas and realised that the quatrefoil shape of Clifford's Tower would lend itself to such a display fantastically."

Ms Wyatt added it had been more than "400 years since the tower last had any kind of roof covering".

The Umbrella Sky art installation will remain in place until 21 October, weather permitting.