Come for fayre's festive feast - but forget the car

More than 100,000 people are expected to visit the fayre, which will be opened by Mayor Gareth Jones during a special open-air carol service at the Cornmarket at 5.45pm this afternoon and continues until Sunday.

A total of 110 stalls will sell crafts, hand-made Christmas cards and decorations.

It attracts shoppers from as far away as Manchester and Leeds, and residents are being urged to take public transport to ease congestion.

The Commandery, in Sidbury, will be looking back to traditional ways of preparing Christmas dinner in mediaeval times.

Staff will cook time-honoured recipes, including figgy pudding, mulled wine and mead, to get into the spirit of traditional Christmas feasting.

"Also in and around the building will be a travelling peddler, with his assorted wares, including an array of gifts and goods," said a Worcester City Council spokesman.

Shoppers are being encouraged to take full advantage of the special Christmas park-and-ride arrangements.

Extra services are being laid on from the Worcester North park-and-ride site, supported by Saturday services from Christopher Whitehead School, St John's, and County Hall, Spetchley Road.

Worcester City Council's Transportation Officer Andy Perry said: "The fayre has a major impact on parking in the city, so park-and-ride benefits everyone.

"The service is pretty much constant and passengers shouldn't be faced with too much waiting."

The operational hours of the Worcester North park and ride will be extended to 10pm from today until

Saturday.

On Saturday, Dudley's Coaches will carry out a service from the Cathedral roundabout, which costs 50p for adults with accompanied children under 16 being free.

Aston's Coaches will also run a service on Saturday from Angel Mall, off Angel Street, in the city centre, again costing 50p for a return ticket per adult with accompanied children under 16

Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday.