York's Christmas lights have a chequered history. KATIE EMSLEY and NADIA JEFFERSON-BROWN compare them with Lincoln's display.

WHEN it comes to tourist attractions, York and Lincoln can compete on a fairly equal footing.

Both cities are endowed with spectacular cathedrals which dominate the largely medieval skyline, and visitors flock to the ancient shopping thoroughfares in both places.

However, bring Christmas lighting into the equation, and York is left in the shade somewhat.

Lincoln's Christmas lights have earned plaudits as a dazzling example of how York should bedeck its streets and buildings during the festive period.

The City of Lincoln Council is well aware of how important Christmas lighting is in attracting visitors to the city over the busy shopping season.

"We believe the effort that goes into creating the right atmosphere at Christmas pays off by encouraging people who visit Lincoln at Christmas to return during the year," said Phil Blansard, principal engineer at Lincoln.

This year's decorations will include almost 7,000 light bulbs, and every year a switching-on ceremony is held in City Square.

Funding is a joint effort between the council and businesses. A council spokeswoman said people would not contribute to the lights unless they set tills jingling.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said visitors to York had high expectations over the Christmas period.

"We know from research that people expect a Dickensian Christmas when they come to York, starting with St Nicholas Fair at the end of November, and we can't create that atmosphere without lights.

"We would encourage businesses to get behind this appeal and try and find the money. There's an economic benefit and it is the most important time of the year for traders. This is an investment that goes beyond two or three weeks of the year.

"People's expectations of York, particularly at Christmas, are high. People expect something new each year. They look down the streets and hope it will be better than last year.

"If we don't have lights there could be repercussions for other years."

For years, Christmas lights in York were greeted with dismay as poor festive illuminations cast a dim glow over a fine historic city.

Local complaints rumbled on until the city was shamed into taking action by Towton, a tiny village near Tadcaster, which was said to have outshone York in 1997.

Councillor Derek Smallwood, Lord Mayor of York at the time, took the issue to heart.

The following year he put right York's low-wattage effort by raising more than £20,000 in a Christmas lights campaign - a sum matched by the council.

York finally proved itself as a leading light, setting higher standards for years to come.

More recently, traders in certain York streets have decided to go it alone at Christmas.

Following Goodramgate's lead, businesses in Colliergate have been clubbing together to decorate shop fronts with trees and tinsel, with banners of red and gold lights across the street.

Chris Watson, of Blackwell & Denton, said: "We will be doing our own lights in Colliergate as we have done very successfully for the last four years or so. We even have some extra money in the kitty to buy extra lights."

Nicholas Brown, managing director of Browns of York, Davygate, said: "We already contribute money towards Christmas lighting, as well as spending at least £1,000 every year on our own lights."

Updated: 10:44 Wednesday, September 15, 2004