The well-attended evening was opened by Mayor Janet Jefferson who gave a commendatory speech reflecting on the charity work Mr Payne had carried out over the years.

Mr Payne had previously announced the evening would be the last large charity event he would organise, but intended to concentrate on smaller, more concentrated fundraising efforts for sick and under-privileged children.

Mr Payne, 73, has raised thousands of pounds for charity over the years.
He is President of the Save the Children Fund (Scarborough branch) and has regularly held events to raise money for them.

He started fundraising for St Catherine's Hospice in 1990 by producing calendars and in 12 years netted a profit for the hospice of £215,00.

The 50-minute film, Scarborough Fair, was produced and directed by Mr Payne's late friend, Michael Wallace, who was killed in a road accident just a few years after making the film.

It had been restored from its original VHS format into a DVD by local company, Intelligent Television and Video Ltd free of charge.

The film showed some of the highlights of Scarborough from 1973 including the European Street Carnival Parade, the original North Bay pool, The Hispaniola on the Mere with children's visits to Treasure Island, Water Skiing, Zoo and Marineland and the Italian Gardens.

Mr Payne said: "I would like to thank everybody who attended the evening and for their genuine positive comments about the film. I would also like to thank the Mayor and Consort for their kind words."

Copies of the DVD, priced at £8.50, are now on sale at Boyes, the Harbour Bar, the YMCA, Centre News Newsagents in Huntriss Row, Photo Studio in Aberdeen Walk, Gibson Butchers in Ramshill Road and Headers hairdressers in Aberdeen Walk.

Mr Payne has thanked all these outlets for selling the DVD without retaining any money, and has promised that every penny of profit will go to Scarborough charities and deserving causes.

Any Max Payne reprints from his collection which are ordered through the Evening News also raise funds for his charities.

TO VIEW MAX PAYNE"S GALLERIES CLICK HERE