A YORK trader who used to put up Goodramgate's Christmas lights, says the new lighting system in the shopping street is proving a bit of a turn-off.

For the last six years, Frank Wood, proprietor of Braithwaite's jewellers, backed by other traders, has made and put up the Goodramgate lights.

But this year, responsibility for the lights was given to Halifax company Lumalite - and Mr Wood has described the display as "a real mess".

Goodramgate regularly won praise for the quality of its lighting, and attracted high-profile stars such as Paul Daniels to switch them on, said Mr Wood.

"The state they are in now is hugely disappointing. I really hope they aren't putting people off from coming to Goodramgate," he said.

But City of York Council has said Lumalite was "making every effort" to get the lights right.

"They are constantly working down there on that system," said city centre manager John Wood.

"Any difficulties can be put down to teething problems."

Lumalite was given the job by First Stop York - a group set up to promote tourism in York - and the council.

The two groups hoped that controlling the lights centrally would lead to better co-ordination when displays are being set up and switched on.

But, according to Frank Wood, that is not happening.

He said some of the chaser lights, those that go in the middle of each strip and "make them come to life" by flashing, were not working.

He claimed several of the strips have not been covered with "garland wrap" - the green substance that looks like pine needles.

"To be fair to the council they are trying a scheme that will improve the lights, but at the moment it just isn't working," said Frank Wood.

But John Wood said: "Lumalite is an international company that works with Christmas lights in a great many towns and cities. They are spending hours down there to get this system to an acceptable standard, and without their efforts it could have been a lot worse."

Lumalite sales director Paul Mitchell said "major changes" had to be made to the system and equipment when the Goodramgate job switched from volunteers to professionals.

"The first year is always the hardest and we got some teething problems, but we are disappointed we got just five weeks to do all the lights in York," said Mr Mitchell.

"As a gesture of goodwill, Lumalite would like to offer to manufacture 12 'over the road' type displays, to be ready in time for next Christmas," he said.

Updated: 11:38 Wednesday, December 05, 2001