A HUGE crowd of revellers saw the Minster "painted" with a spectacular display of coloured light, and enjoyed a show to remember as more than five weeks of festive fun were declared officially under way in York.

With one press of a huge plunger, stars of stage, screen and snooker switched on York's Christmas lights and ushered in the season of goodwill.

About 7,500 revellers packed into Duncombe Place to see history made, as, for the first and only time, the Minster was covered with colour.

World snooker number one Ronnie O'Sullivan, panto stars Berwick Kaler and Martin Barrass, York teenage pop star Stacey Ace, and Father Christmas himself were just some of the famous faces who helped declare York's Christmas season "open".

Rocking Rudolph and his friends from the Minster Lions were also there to join in the fun - and raise funds for charity.

After pressing the plunger the lights across the city lit up as one, but it was the Minster most had come to see. There was a loud gasp from the crowd as it went blue, then pink, then green, with huge images of snowflakes projected on to the front.

Six-year-old Rosie Sharp, of Bishopthorpe, said: "It looks really nice. My favourite person here tonight was Father Christmas."

Mum Debbie, at the switch-on with parents Joan and Gary and son Samuel, three, said: "It has been good fun, an excellent show."

Roberto Albarez, of La Coruna, Spain, was at the switch-on as the guest of the Pepper family, of Huby, near Easingwold.

He said: "York is a spectacular city, and this was a spectacular show."

Mark Pepper, father of six-year-old William, and Alexander, four, said: "It has been fantastic fun."

"I loved the fireworks," said William.

After the show, organiser Mark Brayshaw said he was "delighted".

He said: "So much planning and hard work has gone into this, it has gone like a dream.

"Lighting the Minster alone was a mammoth task, but it went superbly well and the crowd's reaction shows just what they thought.

"Everyone has pulled together to make this night the success it was. The businesses round here have been fantastic, something like this can involve some disruption, but they have backed us all the way and we thank them for that.

"We have aimed to get the event to this part of York for some time now. Now it is here to stay."

Updated: 12:00 Monday, December 02, 2002