YORK faces a gloomy Christmas unless businesses rally round to ensure the city gets the displays it deserves.

York Business Pride today launched an urgent £15,000 Christmas lights appeal.

Make York Sparkle is asking businesses to dig deep to help make sure city centre streets shine this Christmas.

The appeal got off to a great start today, as traders in Colliergate pledged £1,000 to back the campaign - and hopes are pinned on their colleagues elsewhere in the city following their lead.

The city's Christmas Lights Committee has worked hard to raise cash, but despite their efforts, more is needed.

Nestl has already contributed £30,000 to the fund, with £12,000 from City of York Council - but that still leaves much work to be done to hit the £57,000 target.

Unless this is met, there is a real danger that some of the city centre's main streets will be without lights over the festive period.

Adam Sinclair, the chairman of York Business Pride, said: "Our Christmas Lights committee has been working hard even since before last Christmas towards ensuring this year's display.

"We received a number of promising pledges, most of which have unfortunately fallen through at a late stage, but we are grateful for Nestl's contribution.

"This will go some way towards brightening up York this Christmas, but it will not guarantee the display that we would like to put on. We need help from the business people of York."

The streets that could be without lights are Colliergate, Goodramgate, Davygate, Low Petergate, Fossgate, Micklegate, Coney Street and Parliament Street. The Quarter, Stonegate and The Shambles provide their own lights.

John Cook, the chairman of the Colliergate Trader's Association, said: "I think Christmas lights are an essential way to bring in Christmas shoppers particularly in poor trading times like we have at present.

"If everyone made a contribution to this we could make the target I'm sure."

Nestl's marketing director, David Rennie, said: "Nestl Rowntree is delighted to be sponsoring York's Christmas lights once again.

"As a major employer in the City, we are pleased to be able to play a part in the festivities. We hope that others will join us in bringing a seasonal glow to the streets of York this Christmas."

The lights will be on from November 18, but because of financial constraints a big show is not planned.

Last year £30,000 was needed to cover the installation and maintenance costs of the year's festive illuminations, and the amount was raised within weeks of the Evening Press launching its appeal.

In the countdown to Christmas a host of events are planned, including a new Children's Fair from November 18 to 20 in and around Parliament Street.

It will include a toy market, carol singing and other family entertainment. All stallholders will be donating a gift for Father Christmas to deliver to children at York Hospital on Christmas Day.

How to donate

Anyone wanting to make donations can phone Elenid Davies at City of York Council on 01904 554532.

Alternatively, make cheques payable to City of York Council and posted to council c/o Elenid Davies, 20, George Hudson Street, York YO1 6WR.

'Fed up with York? Visit Selby'

NEIGHBOURING towns will be shining bright for Christmas - one has even invited York people to come and share in the seasonal joy if the city is shrouded in gloom.

The invitation has come from Selby, where the town council maintains the stock of Christmas lights, which is added to and improved every year.

A glittering switch-on ceremony is planned for Saturday, December 3.

Coun Steve Shaw-Wright said: "Anyone fed up with York's Christmas troubles is more than welcome to come to our big switch-on, see our lights and displays and, of course, spend money in our shops."

Updated: 09:10 Saturday, October 15, 2005