A WONDERFUL light show, a top sports star, the city's most irrepressible dame, a brace of pop idols and a fine night: York has rarely had a better Christmas switch-on.

The unexpected appearance of Fame Academy's Alistair Griffin alongside Hayley Bamford thrilled the large crowd almost as much as the sight of a technicolour York Minster.

Just one slight hitch: the fireworks did not go off as planned. What an irony. York has endured weeks of unscheduled pyrotechnics, but the official display failed to be bang on time.

Updated: 11:42 Friday, November 28, 2003