TWO of York's traditional Christmas lights switch-on ceremonies are being turned off this year.

Large crowds have gathered in recent years at Monks Cross and the Coppergate Centre to see the festive illuminations turned on by celebrities.

As many as 15,000 came two years ago to see Big Brother winner Craig Phillips perform the switch-on at Monks Cross. Several girls were overcome with the excitement as a crush developed at a store where he was signing autographs.

Another big crowd came last Christmas to see Countdown presenter Richard Whiteley flick the switch, and also watch York pop idol wannabe Hayley Bamford perform.

The Coppergate lights were turned on by York panto dame Berwick Kaler and the Lord Mayor to complete a day of fun, during which staff dressed in Dickensian costumes.

But attention this year will be focused instead on just one big city centre switch-on ceremony on November 21, in Parliament Street or Deangate.

Monks Cross spokesman Mark Brayshaw said it had decided against a ceremony for several reasons. He said it wanted to support the city centre switch-on, the ceremony was expensive to organise and late-night shopping at Monks Cross was being launched a month earlier this year on November 4.

The switch-on normally heralded the launch of late-night shopping, but the beginning of November was too early for the lights to be turned on. He stressed that Monks Cross would still have its Christmas tree and grotto.

Coppergate Centre manager Di Dixon said there had been confusion in the past about which switch-on to go to. "We have been splitting the market."

Now Coppergate would support the city centre ceremony, while still mounting its own display of Christmas lights - "the best in York".

She said the centre would devote its budget to a major competition for shoppers throughout the four weeks running up to Christmas, with big cash prizes culminating in a £1,000 pay-out in the final week.

A spokesman for City of York Council said it was not yet known who would perform the city centre switch-on, nor was it certain whether it would take place in Parliament Street as has happened in recent years.

Mark Brayshaw said there were safety concerns about a large crowd gathering in such a location with so much street furniture about.

An alternative location was being investigated was Deangate near the Minster, where a large crowd could gather and also disperse quickly and safely in an emergency.

Kay Hyde, PR manager for York Tourism Bureau, said: "The idea is to make the city centre show even bigger and better."

Updated: 10:54 Thursday, September 26, 2002