It is hard to recall a year when the festive forecast has been so gloomy.

The credit crunch will keep people in their homes with their wallets closed, we are told.

But will it be as bad as feared? True, the warnings are severe and consistent and we all know from recent experience that the recession is very real.

Yet just as the towns turn on their lights with a cheer, so we always make a special allowance for Christmas.

We will celebrate and no doubt part with at least some of our hard-earned cash to buy presents and perhaps a drink or two for ourselves.

Every year there are dark predictions from retailers in the run-up to the great spending spree – it happened last year. Hopefully 2008 will again defy the worst-case scenario.

At least our towns are doing their best and the lights and decorations are just the start of the celebrations.

Halifax has lined up a bumper programme of fun including a sculpture trail, late night openings, the ice rink at the Piece Hall and performances in the Westgate canopy.

The efforts should be enough to bring the crowds into town and with luck calamity will be avoided for those firms who rely so heavily on Christmas trade.