THE Victorian Christmas Fayre has a new sponsor as people are urged to travel to the event with their family by bus thanks to a special offer.

The Victorian Christmas Fayre will be sponsored by First Bus with preparations well underway as people in the county are urged to make the most of an unlimited travel offer.

This year’s fayre is being sponsored by First Bus which is offering a £10 ticket which will allow five people to have unlimited travel all day on the Worcester network, including travel on the Park and Ride.

The Victorian Christmas Fayre draws more than 150,000 people to Worcester across the four days, contributing an estimated £7 million to the local economy each year. This year’s event will run between Thursday, November 30 until Sunday, December 3 with nearly 200 stalls filling the city’s streets.

Visitors can enjoy a host of festive traditions such as roasted chestnuts and mulled wine and enjoy stepping back in time to how Christmas might have looked 150 years ago.

Seasonal stalls offering locally-sourced food, drink, crafts and gifts will be in place in High Street, Cathedral Square, Pump Street, New Street, Friar Street, Cornmarket and The Shambles.

There will also be a programme of entertainment, including Victorian characters, entertainers on stilts, musicians and buskers on street corners.  The traditional vintage carousel will be in the Cornmarket.

First Bus will be operating its Park and Ride service (number 910) providing a cheap and convenient way to visit the Fayre.

The Park and Ride goes from County Hall to Worcester Crowngate Bus Station, on Friday from 5pm until 10pm; on Saturday from 8.35am until 6pm and on Sunday from 9.45am to 3.30pm.

Fares will be £2 single or £4 return and the company is also offering a £10 group ticket – available for up to five people, which offers unlimited travel all day within the Worcester network. The group ticket is only available on the First Bus app.

To mark its sponsorship of the event First Bus will also be running a competition offering prizes of ten Worcester Network month tickets and will be having their own stall at the Fayre on the Saturday.

Mayor of Worcester, Cllr Louis Stephen said: “I am delighted that First Bus are sponsoring this year’s Victorian Fayre – it is one of the highlights of Worcester’s calendar and I’m very much looking forward to it. Whatever your age, it provides traditional festive fun – and a great chance to pick up locally-made Christmas gifts.”

Sarah Wallbridge, senior marketing manager with First Bus, said: “The Victorian Christmas Fayre is definitely one of the highlights in Worcester’s annual calendar, and we are absolutely delighted to be sponsoring it, and in turn continuing to make it one of the city’s most successful and hotly anticipated events."