YORK'S streets were set ablaze by a colourful array of garlands and decorations last night as the Christmas lights were turned on by a rather unusually dressed Santa and his helpers.

Stars from this year's pantomime at the Grand Opera House turned out with Radio York presenters and snooker player John Higgins to join the environmentally-friendly green Santa to turn on most of the light around the city streets.

With a show in Parliament Street, which went out live on the radio and television, the new Yuletide energy-conscious lights came to life.

Jean Fergusson (CORRECT) who plays Marina in Last of the Summer Wine and is the fairy in Dick Whittington turned out for the event. She said: "The lights are lovely. It's really nice to be in York for the festive period."

The Lord Mayor of York Irene Waudby added: "They are super. Really nice and good for the environment."

Hundreds of people gathered to watch as York revealed its renewable energy lights, which are the first in the country.

Sponsored by electricity provider npower, which has stumped up £30,000 towards the cost of the lights, the lights are powered by electricity from Juice, a joint venture between npower and Greenpeace, which harnesses wind at sea to supply up to 50,000 electricity customers in the UK.

Until construction of the Juice wind farm is complete in 2003, supplies flow from existing wind sources and a hydro plant based in North Wales, which uses the plentiful natural supply of water to generate electricity.

Jane Hanlon in the crowd with her family said: "It's really good that the lights are friendly to the environment. It sets a good example to the rest of the country."

If all the lights, which are using 7,826 light bulbs, were laid out together they would stretch almost a mile.

York residents wishing to find out more about Juice can log onto www.npower.com/juice or call the hotline on 0800 316 2610.

Updated: 08:45 Friday, November 16, 2001