Malton and Norton are preparing for Christmas. Some might consider this a little premature, but the Ryedale towns are in real need of a bumper festive season and so business leaders are leaving nothing to chance.
Trade has been hit by the double whammy of floods and foot-and-mouth disease. A good Christmas will lift the gloom.
Malton and Norton are up against fierce competition from the out-of-town retail parks and York. The towns' plans to introduce late night and Sunday shopping and introduce free parking will certainly begin to restack the odds in their favour.
Updated: 10:15 Tuesday, September 25, 2001
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