SHOPKEEPERS have hit out at one of the city's biggest tourist attractions, saying it has a negative impact on their trade.

Retailers in Worcester's historic Friar Street claim the annual Victorian Christmas Fayre, which last year attracted 100,000 visitors, is taking away their trade.

They say the fair, which has been running for 10 years, has grown too big for the narrow confines of Friar Street.

This year it is due to be held on the last weekend of November.

Lynne Craig, owner of Lynne Craig designer fashions, in Friar Street, said when the fayre first started it was a "delight" but it had become too big.

"Basically it's outgrown the area," she said.

"From a security point of view, these streets are extremely narrow.

"It's too congested - we can't move when the fayre's on.

"We might as well shut the shop because a lot of our customers are put off, as it's so crowded."

Paula Jauncey, from Emporio, also in Friar Street, said the fair had become a "monster" and it should be moved somewhere like Worcester Racecourse.

"Friar Street has the ambience the organisers are craving but it's far too narrow," she said.

"People find it intimidating and claustrophobic because it is so packed.

"Independent businesses like ours don't benefit at all - you can't even see the shops because of the stalls and the people. We might as well close for the weekend."

Sally Dix, from Felice, in Friar Street, said the fair "absolutely kills" their business each year.

"Our takings drop to less than a quarter of what it normally is - nobody comes in," she said.

"And our normal customers stay away because of the crowds."

Tony Audas, director of community services at Worcester City Council, said the fair had been a "huge success" since it was set up to extend the tourist season in the Faithful City.

He said guesthouses, restaurants and shops all benefited from an increase in trade.

"From time to time, somebody has a problem but these really are minor issues in the thrust of the whole thing," he said.

"A lot of money is spent in Worcester on that weekend that would otherwise not be spent, but there are bound to be some people who are not happy."

Godfrey Harvey, chairman of the Fayre committee, said some retailers reported massive increases in trade during the event.

"I've heard some people say they do a third of their annual turnover in that one weekend," he said.

"It depends what you're selling."