KEY York businesses are being asked to pledge only £100 each to make sure that visitors and residents enjoy a Christmas with sparkle.

Trading bosses are resending letters to 200 shops after an initial plea for help to raise the £30,000 needed to put up Christmas lights fell on deaf ears.

But since the Evening Press launched the Make York Sparkle campaign, more than £16,000 has been raised to help light up the city's streets.

The cash is needed to pay for the installation and maintenance costs of this year's festive illuminations, which were thrown into jeopardy because of a shortfall.

In a letter to the stores, York Business Pride chairman Adam Sinclair said £100 would bring the "festive feel" back to the city and encourage visitors.

He said: "Remember each Christmas over half a million visitors come to York and some £37 million is spent by visitors annually - on top of all the Christmas spend by York's residents.

"Please support this urgent fundraising drive as we need to commit soon to all the works necessary to have Christmas lights in York by the end of November - to make the most of the Christmas season."

Mr Sinclair said the Christmas lights were in "jeopardy" and, without extra support, this year's display "simply will not happen".

The pot of contributions has already hit the halfway-mark after York-based train firm GNER, which employs 300 people in the city, pledged £5,000.

City of York Council started the ball rolling with £5,000, a move which then triggered York Business Pride to announce it would consider matching the sum at its next board meeting.

Other small contributions have come in and appeal organisers are confident that the appeal is gathering momentum.

GNER chief operating officer Jonathan Metcalfe said it would be a "terrible tragedy" if York did not have its lights for Christmas. He said all business in York benefited from a thriving economy and good trade.

If you would like to support the appeal, contact Ian Tempest, City of York Council, 20 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6WR (making cheques payable to City of York Council). Please enclose your name and address.

Updated: 11:31 Monday, September 27, 2004 # Back to the Make York Sparkle ind