The mystery donor has given £5,000 to the town's Christmas Lights Committee, whose chairman Kate Gray said the donation is a huge boost to the efforts to brighten up the town for the festive season.

"It is amazing. I am absolutely thrilled to bits - I could not believe my ears," said Coun Gray, who was contacted by the donor to pledge the cash.

"It has nearly doubled the money we have available and means we can put in more features. We are hoping the lights be more spectacular this year."

The donation follows two years of tireless work by campaigners to raise money to enable Beverley to put on a more festive display, and the donor is understood to have expressed a hope that other people will also be encouraged to step in to help.

Fund raising events throughout the year have so far raised around £7,628 for the lights display, including over £4,000 from the town's Festival of Christmas.

Half the proceeds from the Chamber of Trade fashion show taking place this month will also go to the lights appeal.

Coun Gray said it was already planned to install some new snowflake lights in North Bar Within, and it is now planned to add to the displays in Saturday Market, thanks to the unexpected donation.

"The money has been raised with a lot of hard work and support from everyone.

"It is a good team effort and the donation means an enormous amount to us.

"We put some new lights up last year and we have been improving them slowly but this means the lighting will have more impact. The more people who give, the better it will be," she said.

Coun Gray said that the only request the donor had made was a stipulation that residents in the neighbouring parishes of Molescroft and Woodmansey should also be asked to contribute to the fund raising efforts.

"We have to approach the other parishes because the donor feels that all the people of Beverley benefit from the Christmas lights when they come into the town," she said.

Beverley Town Council clerk, Helen Ball, said the donation is a huge boost for fundraisers who have worked so hard to brighten up the town.

"Obviously the donation is highly appreciated and we take great heart in that someone has acknowledged the work which has been done over the last two years, in which people have worked tirelessly to raise funds," she said.

"As I understand it, the benefactor liked what we have done as a group by making significant inroads into improving the Christmas lights, and wants to actively contribute and encourage other people to do likewise.

"The Christmas lights are an important benefit to the town and the more people who get involved, the better Beverley will be as a whole."