YORK city centre is preparing to don its winter coat, with the addition of more festive lights than ever before.

This year’s seasonal displays will bring sparkle to more streets, with around 160,000 lights stretching 15km from end to end.

York BID and Make It York have joined forces to ensure that more locations, including Colliergate, New Street and Shambles Market, will be bathed in a warm glow.

Visit York head, Paul Whiting, said that the impact of the lights in attracting visitors to York could not be underestimated.

He said: “The lights not only make the city look stunning on dark evenings, they also bring visitors here especially to see them and, importantly, share the stunning images on social media.

“This helps spread the word about why York really is the UK’s most festive city.

“The winter lighting brightens up the city after Christmas too, helping us tempt more visitors during a quieter time of the year.”

Official figures show that attraction visits, hotel occupancy, rail journeys to York and visitor footfall were all up year-on-year during last year’s winter lights period.

York BID executive director, Andrew Lowson, said: “York has worked hard to earn its reputation as Britain’s most festive city and we’re doing what we can to ensure it retains this crown.”

More than 100 real Christmas trees, covered trunk to tip in lights, will be located across the city and streets will stay illuminated during the Ice Trail, Residents Weekend and until the end of February.

This year’s lights switch-on will take place in St Helen’s Square on Thursday, November 15, by the Christmas tree, which stands in tribute to the St Leonard's Hospice Light Up a Life campaign.

Each light on the tree represents a name in its Book of Honour, which remembers loved ones lost.