YULETIDE festivities start in York today as the Christmas Lights are switched on in the Coppergate Centre and the four-day St Nicholas Fayre opening in Parliament Street. Stalls with local produce and exciting gifts will be displaying their wares until Sunday.

There is also a St Nicholas Medieval market in Barley Hall. The first late-night shopping of the Millennium will start with a blaze of lights in Coppergate Centre when its Christmas lights are switched on at 6.30pm tonight.