FESTIVE shopping officially starts across North Yorkshire next week with the turning on of Christmas lights, almost a month after York's neighbouring city, Leeds.

Further north, Middlesbrough's seasonal lights will have been shining for nearly two weeks.

But the lateness of the region's official start to the Christmas period was today defended by council and business chiefs.

"Here in York, most people and organisations seem to be happy with the timing, which is designed to coincide with the launch of pre-Christmas late night shopping and provide a safe and very festive atmosphere in the city," said a City of York Council spokesman.

Although independently funded lights have been twinkling in York's historic Shambles for the past two weeks, the rest of the city will not be lit up until November 28, the start of St Nicholas's Fayre, when the switch will be thrown in a ceremony at Duncombe Place.

In Malton, they will be turned on the day before York's, while in Norton and Selby the festive lights will be lit on November 30.

But in Leeds the turn-on was on November 4 and, in Middlesbrough, the lights went on last Thursday.

The council spokesman said: "The timing of any Christmas lights switch-on is obviously a matter of seasonal debate and we are aware that some cities seem to enjoy beating everyone else to be the first in the race."

But the timing has been supported by businesses.

Len Cruddas, the chief executive of North Yorkshire's Chamber of Commerce, said: "It's a question of when does Christmas start. I was in a baker's shop before Bonfire Night and they had festive cakes in there, and I thought that was a little bit too early. It's a case of finding a sensible starting point.

"I personally would like to see the turn-on a little bit earlier because it makes a very nice environment for shopping in.

"But I'd be surprised if it made a difference to business. We are dealing with the same overall spend I think."

Diana Dickson, centre manager for Coppergate, said: "York is very traditional and, traditionally, the lights here go on a little bit later than Leeds.

"York people seem to like that. They don't like Christmas to come too early, and it doesn't make any difference to the amount of business we do. The amount of shoppers in York this weekend was phenomenal."

Karen Shields, of Middlesbrough's Town Centre Company, an agency which works with partners including the town's council and businesses, said: "By mid-November Christmas shopping has started anyway.

"The lights don't increase numbers, but it makes a nicer shopping environment."

Updated: 12:03 Tuesday, November 19, 2002