YORK faces a Christmas blackout if businesses do not get behind an urgent appeal to bring Christmas lights to town.

Traders and residents are being warned the city will be drab and cheerless if funds are not found to pay for proper illuminations.

York Business Pride's Christmas lights committee has already appealed without success to the business community for support in lighting up the city. It says it will take £30,000 just to maintain and install the city's existing lights.

Now The Evening Press is lending its weight to a final push for sponsors and supporters to become leading lights in the campaign to bring Christmas cheer to York.

York Business Pride chairman Adam Sinclair said cash was urgently needed in the next three to four weeks to cover the testing, installation and maintenance of existing lights in time for Christmas.

He said the group had written to every business in York, but there had been a "totally inadequate" response to several hundred letters sent out .

"As a city we have got to get away from the 'someone else will do it' attitude which seems to pervade our business and residential communities," he said.

"It is our duty to flag up the position before it's too late."

The six-week Christmas period attracts more than 500,000 extra shoppers to York, and their estimated spend is more than £37 million.

Some streets such as Goodramgate and Colliergate have their own lights, but Mr Sinclair warned there would not be "a comprehensive" scheme without more support.

City of York Council is covering storage costs as well as funding festive lights in certain historic and key locations.

Its economic development team is also pushing sponsorship opportunities with major companies.

Council leader Councillor Steve Galloway said: "Every year people comment on the relative merits of different cities as far as Christmas lighting is concerned. It is important for the economy that people do feel there is something to come to see in York which is different."

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire chamber of commerce, said: "We can't be complacent. We the Chamber of Commerce will be supportive. It really is very important for the city."

Simon Evans, owner of The Canopy, Goodramgate, said: "I would seriously consider giving some money towards the appeal, but there would have to be enough involvement from lots of other people."

Last year up to 10,000 people packed Duncombe Place for the Christmas light switch-on, which was led by a light display that covered York Minster with giant snowflakes.

Tony Bennett, director of the council's economic development team, said: "The council fully acknowledges the importance of Christmas lights to York.

"We are contributing as much we can towards this year's lights, as well as leading on the substantial promotion of York this Christmas through the Yuletide York campaign.

"The council fully supports York Business Pride's fundraising drive to safeguard this tremendous benefit to York's businesses and residents."

Anyone who would like to contribute to the Christmas lights fund should write to Ian Tempest, Economic Development Unit, City of York Council, 20 George Hudson Street, York. YO1 6WR.

Updated: 10:42 Wednesday, September 15, 2004