RETAILERS in York report a bumper spending spree, although nationally sales are down on last year.

So runs the financial take on Christmas. It is a view dominated by sales charts and profit margins, and every year it threatens to turn this religious and family festival into a celebration of commerce.

Somehow, though, it never does.

No matter how hard the sell, the pure essence of Christmas shines through. The spirit of togetherness, of giving, of peace and goodwill overcomes the commercial cacophony.

That is clear from the stories we carry today. The Scales family Christmas could have been very grim indeed. Eleven-year-old Katie was fortunate to survive being knocked down by a hit-and-run driver.

Now her family will enjoy a family celebration like never before. And their joy at Katie's Christmas homecoming has been increased by the efforts of another remarkable family: that of Evening Press readers.

You responded brilliantly to our appeal to buy a computer for Katie, launched only last week. Thanks to your generosity, she can now keep in touch with friends via email and stay on course with her schoolwork throughout her rehabilitation.

She is not the only youngster to be touched by readers' kindness. Children at the York women's refuge were facing a bleak Christmas. It has been transformed. Once again, toys have flooded into our offices to ensure that these families share in the festive magic.

One man who embodies the spirit of Christmas is Ian Stillman. He has always sought to help others, despite his profound deafness and the loss of a leg in an accident.

For 829 days he languished in an Indian jail, the result of a terrible miscarriage of justice. Now he is spending Christmas with his family. Ian is enjoying his freedom in part as a result of our campaign, again supported so wonderfully by readers.

In a very different way, John McEwan is also looking forward to a better Christmas than he expected. Mr McEwan has been kitted out in a smart new outfit and given other presents by regulars at the Roman Bath pub in York.

All the season's jollity exacerbates feelings of loneliness, but Mr McEwan will tuck into his Christmas Day lunch knowing he has many friends - the best gift of all.

And it is one we all have the opportunity to give. This was reflected by the Lord Mayor of York Coun David Horton in his Christmas message, when he asked us all to spare some time for a lonely neighbour.

All these heartwarming stories confirm the power of the Christmas story to shine light into the darkness. As the Archbishop of York Dr David Hope writes on this page, peace, hope and joy are the true messages of the season. Have a very merry Christmas.

Updated: 10:32 Tuesday, December 24, 2002