WE run a small independent shop in the centre of York, The Cat Gallery, in Low Petergate.

We received our Christmas light funding request last week and immediately took the requested contribution round to Mulberry Hall, administrative HQ of York Business Pride.

Retailers could debate for hours whether they should have to fund Christmas lights directly but the fact of the matter appears to be that without everyone pulling together and chipping in, the lights just will not happen.

Given that scenario, it seems to us to be a "no-brainer" as to whether we should be prepared not just to contribute, but to put our heads above the parapet and encourage other retailers to do the same.

Business may not be booming and everyone is watching their costs, but to us it seems an absolute certainty that all retailers will be worse off both this Christmas and in future years if the 2004 lights do not happen.

Peter and Alison Hanson, The Cat Gallery, Low Petergate, York.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, September 18, 2004