A FANFARE celebration is being planned to herald the official start of York's Christmas festivities following a successful fundraising appeal to illuminate the city.

Nestl Rowntree has come up trumps again for the people of York by sponsoring the grand finale of the switch-on ceremony on top of donating the full £30,000 needed for the lights.

The Evening Press can reveal that, thanks to the confectionery firm, York Minster will be bathed in lights for the occasion on Thursday, November 25.

The Minster will remain lit until the end of the popular four-day St Nicholas Fayre on Sunday, November 28.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun Janet Looker, and Chris White, managing director of Nestl Rowntree, will perform the switch-on at 6pm, in Duncombe Place, with entertainment provided by party band Huge and a special appearance by Father Christmas.

The city centre will then be decked with colourful displays through to the New Year following support from principle sponsor Nestl, along with York Business Pride, City of York Council and locally-based businesses, including GNER and First York.

Earlier this autumn, Nestl responded to The Evening Press-backed York Business Pride "Make York Sparkle" appeal for support to save the Christmas illuminations.

The campaign was launched when other efforts failed to raise enough cash to cover the installation and maintenance costs of the lights, threatening to plunge York into a Christmas "black-out".

The appeal raised a total of £47,000, successfully providing a platform on which to build next year's lights.

The switch-on is being organised by Mark Brayshaw, of Rockin' Horse Promotions, on behalf of the city's Christmas Lights Group.

Last year, Mr Brayshaw said a crowd of about 10,000 people packed Duncombe Place to witness the stunning light show, arranged as part of the switch-on and centred on the Gothic cathedral.

Individual contributors to York's Christmas Lights Fund also included local businesses Fraser Hart, Up and Running, Yorkshire Bank, MOR Music, Maynews, Jim Garrahy's Fudge Kitchen, Cat Gallery, Woollons Brothers, W H Smith, Carter Jonas and Angels of York.

Further information about Yuletide York is available at York Tourist Information Centre. Phone 01904 621756, email tic@york-tourism.co.uk or log on to the website, www.yuletideyork.com

Updated: 10:09 Thursday, November 18, 2004