CHRISTMAS bursts into life in Malton next weekend.

Why jostle with impersonal crowds in the big city when you can get everything you need in Malton. Not just that, you can have a good time and chances are, whoever you bump into will be someone you know.

There is nothing like the festive spirit in a Yorkshire market town, says Malton and Norton town centre manger Mick Gains who is in charge of getting everyone out on to the streets for fun, games and shopping.

"You won't find a better lighting display than ours anywhere in the county," he says.

Malton is also well placed for the out-of-town visitor. "With a train station, car parks and bus station in the heart of the town, you can be straight into the festive fun as soon as you arrive."

The lights, made by Malton's own Bob North and the lads, belong to the people of Malton. Switch-on is at 6pm on Wednesday, November 28, in front of St Michael's church in Market Place.

Pat Eddery, former champion jockey, will be there for the switch-on and so will Alex Hall, Radio York presenter and former Emmerdale star. He will be there with the Lions' Santa sleigh.

After the lights go on, it's straight into the first of a series of late-night shopping. Every Wednesday until Christmas, shops will be open late and car parks will be free from 4pm.

Mick Gains is hoping that on switch-on night, shops will enter into the spirit of the festive occasion by encouraging their staff to wear fancy dress. The Minster FM road show will be in town from 3pm onwards with spot prizes for the best dressed staff.

Helping with the razzmatazz in Market Place will be a funfair, Punch and Judy, face-painting and a Christmas art exhibition in the church. Local bands will be playing, Santa will be in his grotto at Hoppers and doing a turn at Yates & Sons too, giving out free balloons and sweets. Yorkshire Tea rooms will have mulled wine on the go.

Mick adds: "This is a real local partnership Christmas and hopefully will act as a catalyst for further community and commercial involvement and activity in 2002."

For more details about Malton and Norton's plans to make it a truly special Christmas, turn to p12.

Pickering celebrates its grand Dickens festival with lighting up of Christmas lights on Saturday, November 24.

Thornton-le-Dale lights up on December 1. Full details on p11.

Updated: 08:33 Thursday, November 22, 2001