CITY businesses hope to have the "busiest weekend of the year" as Worcester's Christmas market has finally arrived. 

Stall holders at Worcester Victorian Fayre anticipate a hectic weekend that will boost trade as the sleigh bells—and the tills—ring out for Christmas.

Today (Thursday) marked the first day of the annual event, which draws thousands from across the UK into the city centre.

Worcester Victorian Christmas Fayre opened with a ceremony led by Mayor Mel Allcott, which began at 4.45pm in Worcester Cathedral.

Around 200 stalls full of food and gifts line Cathedral Square, Cornmarket, the High Street, New Street and the Shambles and many are excited about what the weekend will hold.

Cayla Ball, who works at Yum, said: “The owner, Beverly Mitchell, told us this is going to be the biggest and busiest weekend of the year for the business.

"We look forward to seeing old and new customers.”

Also among the stallholders was Jane and Paul Wood, who have been in the market since it began.

Mrs Wood said: "It started in 1993, I think it was, and then as the years have gone on, we have been here.

"We get our repeat customers, so we have to keep coming!

"This event brings us back every year - it is quite magical.

"This weekend, we hope the weather is on our side, and we are really hopeful."

One group of women has travelled all the way from Staffordshire to be at the Worcester Victorian Christmas Market today.

They are part of a darts club in Cheslyn Hay.

One said: “We call it our 12 drinks of Christmas.

“We like to have a girly outing.

“We have two darts teams from our local pub so there is another half of us somewhere else in the market.

“There is 16 of us and we do an annual event where we go to different markets.

“We’re from Cheslyn Hay so it took us an hour and a half to get here.

“This is the first time we’ve ever been to the Worcester market.”