IT is fast becoming a Christmas tradition as inevitable as overspending or turkey leftovers: hunt the York lights.

For years residents have grumbled that York's illuminations never match its Dickensian festive ambience. Every so often, bold plans are drawn up to turn the city into a winter wonderland. These hopes fade and, come November and December, York twinkles but never dazzles.

Last year a new twist was added to the game. It was revealed that York faced a Christmas blackout without £30,000 to maintain and install the lights.

Thanks to the urgent Make York Sparkle whip-round - and a particularly generous donation from Nestl Rowntree - the switch-on went ahead.

At the time, the Evening Press called for better preparation in future. "The city's business community must start planning a bigger, brighter Christmas 2005 - right now," we urged on October 6, 2004.

A year on and another Make York Sparkle campaign is necessary, boosted by another large handout from Nestl Rowntree.

So what has gone wrong this time? To be fair, some business leaders have worked hard behind the scenes to raise the money, but it has proved an uphill struggle.

The problem is the Scrooge-like approach of too many York traders. If every small, medium and large business made a donation matched to its size, we could put on a lightshow to rival or even surpass those staged by other northern cities.

It is in everyone's interest that York has a cracking Christmas. So please dig deep and help Make York Sparkle again.

Updated: 10:46 Monday, October 17, 2005