CHRISTMAS preparations in Ryedale can be bigger and better than ever - if people are prepared to give them their support.

That's the message from Malton's new town centre marketing manager, Peter Mudge, who is looking for ideas on how to make the festive season more of a success.

Last year's Christmas lights switch-on attracted about 3,000 people to the town, said Mr Mudge, and there are hopes that by building on the strengths shown in 2001, the celebrations for 2002 can be every bit as good.

A meeting will be held tomorrow at the Green Man Hotel, in Malton, to pull together ideas. He stressed that anyone and everyone was invited to come along and have their say.

"The strongest thing I want to get out of this is the importance of community and business backing," he said. "It's not just about benefiting businesses, although that is important.

"It's up to all of us to make it a phenomenal success, but I also want to make this fun.

"Hopefully there will be a lot of positive ideas at the meeting - things happen in other areas, so why not here?"

Mr Mudge said what happened in the run-up to Christmas was down to the town to a large extent.

"Certainly when I used to work in Ripon promoting the festival, apathy was a problem in the past.

"But after a while people realise that their contribution is welcome, so they can put in the level of commitment they wish.

"There's no reason why things should not work well here."

Late-night opening was something which had already been discussed, he explained.

"So far my discussions with businesses have indicated that they don't want late-night opening, but if people come forward and say that's something they want, then it will be something we will look at.

"We have to start somewhere - if we decide we are never going to open late or on Sundays, then that is the end of the road.

"We need a few ground-breakers, I am not saying that people will make millions from it, but we have got to start somewhere."

Lights will be switched on in Malton on Wednesday, November 27, with Norton's illuminations taking off on Saturday, November 30.

The first meeting on what residents and businesses would like to see happen over Christmas will take place tomorrow, from noon.

Updated: 08:26 Wednesday, October 09, 2002