EVERY available coach parking space in Worcester city centre has already been booked for two days of next month's Christmas Fayre.

Eager shoppers are expected from as far afield as Bournemouth, Blackpool, Leeds and Cardiff, with more than 200 coaches heading for Worcester on the second and third days of the four-day event.

"We're already full on Friday and Saturday, and almost there for Sunday," said the city's tourism and marketing manager, Andrea Watkins.

Variety

Traders from all over the country have snapped up all 110 stalls at the Victorian-themed Fayre, which will run from Thursday to Sunday, November 25-28.

A new creation this year will be a food court in the Cornmarket, with 28 stalls offering a variety of food and drink, from cider and mulled wine to specialist cheeses, hot pork rolls and burgers.

There will be street entertainment from school choirs, choral groups, Morris and clog dancers and a number of other events timed to coincide with the Fayre.

At the Commandery, where the Great Hall will be decked out for a traditional Yuletide, entrance will be free all weekend.

Refreshments

There will be a free daily prize draw at Royal Worcester, a weekend craft fair in the Cathedral and a Christmas bazaar in the Guildhall.

The City Art Gallery and Museum, St Helen's Church and St Andrew's Church will all remain open for refreshments.

Visitors to the annual Fayre have levelled at around 100,000 in the past two years and income from last year's event amounted to £4.85m.