A VICTORIAN Christmas Fayre provided plenty of festive fun in Worcester from Christmas carols to merry-go-rounds.

Hundreds gathered on the steps of Worcester Guildhall in the High Street to listen to Christmas carols performed by the Cathedral Voluntary Choir to mark the beginning of the fayre yesterday.

The fayre also runs today, Saturday and Sunday and includes a variety of stalls and entertainment.

The mayor of Worcester, Councillor Lucy Hodgson, said: “The fayre brings the city alive and it is a fantastic way to start Christmas for the city.”

A lantern procession then moved from the Guildhall towards the Cornmarket which included 25 specially selected pupils from St Clement’s Primary School in St John’s, Worcester.

The headteacher Kate Brunt said on the day: “They made their lanterns this afternoon. They were extremely excited that they were going to be allowed into the mayor’s parlour and go on the carousel.”

Only the best-behaved pupils took part in a scheme designed to reward good behaviour.

The official opening at the Cornmarket included a bible reading by the mayor’s chaplain Rev David Ryan, carol singing and a blessing from the Dean of Worcester Peter Atkinson.

There were speeches by the mayor of Worcester Lucy Hodgson and representatives of organisers VisitWorcester and Godfrey Harvey, former chairman of the Christmas Fayre Committee.

They were joined on the podium by Anne Marie Laurent, chairman of the Le Vesinet Twinning Association and Karl Heinz Koster, chairman of the Cleve Twinning Association There will be over 100 stalls selling a range of festive goods during the course of the fayre which is now recognised as the most prestigious Victorian-themed street fayre in the midlands. Brass bands and ceilidh dancing will be among the entertainment.

  • Log on to worcesternews.co.uk on Monday for our picture gallery from the event.