HULL will have a merrier Christmas than ever thanks to a new festive campaign being launched by the city's business leaders.

They hope to use the Christmas season to shake off the more chilling effects of the recession by turning Hull into a hub of festive fun and attracting more visitors into the city.

Hull City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) have worked with partners Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) and Hull Forward, via the city's Bondholder Scheme, to plan a string of seasonal activities in the city.

The campaign will be launched on Thursday, November 19, the same day the city's Christmas lights will be switched on by soul singer Beverley Knight marking the official start of Hull's festive season.

John Holmes, chief executive of Hull Forward, explained why the organisations involved saw this Christmas as a good time to unite behind such a campaign for the first time.

He said: "This year Hull really does have a strong Christmas offering, with the retail developments that have taken place over the last few years with St Stephen's arriving and House of Fraser having a make-over, some of the retailers and brands here are really strong.

"This was an opportunity to shout much louder about what Hull really has to offer, to attract people from the East Riding and maybe further afield to do their Christmas shopping."

Christmas is a critical time of year for most shopkeepers which is why the city's business partners are placing such emphasis on ensuring this year is a success.

Ken Baldwin, the manager of Hull BID, said: "For retailers the period for the last four weeks before Christmas and into January is really crucial and can make or break them.

"Some of them take over 60 per cent more business than the rest of the year.

"We want to provide a reason for those living outside the city in the east and west Hull villages to come in. Christmas can be a stressful time for a lot of people but we want to make it fun."

One of the main attractions will be a traditional German Christmas market with more than 43 chalets based in Queens Gardens in the city centre which also officially opens on November 19.

This features a Santa's Grotto where kids can meet Father Christmas and receive an early present for just £2, of which 50 pence will be donated to Dove House Hospice.

Mr Baldwin said he hoped such festivities would also draw people from a wider area beyond East Yorkshire.

He said: "We're working together to try and create a more exciting Christmas for the benefit of the businesses in this city.

"If we make it a bit fun and a bit quirky we should be able to get more people coming here from a bit further afield as opposed to just going to Leeds or Bradford."

A whole range of attractions based upon a Christmas elf theme have been organised, with Hull business leaders launching the first ever National Elf Day on December 12.

There will be an elf trail for kids with the fantastic prize of a trip to Disneyland in Paris, a free elf express bus to ferry people between Ferensway and Queens Gardens, and many elf themed decorations and displays.

On National Elf Day there will be elves on hand to help shoppers in Princes Quay and St Stephen's, making the traditional idea of Santa's little helpers a reality.

Mr Baldwin said: "Hull can be the city that has got the Elves, and that's something we can build on."

All these events will be listed in 150,000 free brochures that will be distributed across the city through door drops and placed in bars, cafes, gyms and offices, providing people with practical information about the city's festive treats.

Mr Baldwin said: "We're all about business improvement and helping what is already here, as well as attracting new business.

"We can't force people into the shops and make them buy something.

"What we can do is increase the number of people coming to the city then it's up to the shops to get them in and take advantage of it."

The campaign partners hope to build on the success of the big events earlier in the year such as the Freedom Festival and Clipper celebrations which turned Hull into a vibrant destination.

They want visitors to take advantage of the services the city has on offer from the restaurants and bars to the entertainment venues.

Mr Holmes said: "The success of Freedom and Clipper showed that people were looking for that great atmosphere.

"We want to try and repeat this for Christmas by creating some nice experiences for people and making Hull a family friendly place."