A CALL has gone out to Worcester businesses to buy into the city's biggest shopping spectacle of the year.

The Christmas Fayre attracts nearly 100,000 shoppers from as far afield as Scotland and Bournemouth, as well as many visitors from the West Midlands and Wales.

The organiser, Worcester City Council, is looking for both local and national companies to sponsor the four-day event, which has a Victorian theme.

"The Christmas Fayre is the highest profile event in the city's calendar and attracts huge crowds and lots of publicity," said Clare Booker, assistant tourism and marketing manager for the council.

"With organisation of the event about to start in earnest, we would like any companies that may be interested in sponsoring the event to come forward."

The fayre, which costs £55,000 a year to run, is self-funding through sponsorship and charges to stall-holders.

It started in 1993 and has grown over the years to become Worcester's top attraction. The event is supported by Worcester Tourism Association and the city's twin towns, Kleve and Le Vesinet.

"The fayre is a massive boost to the city's economy each year," said Peter Morgan, spokesman for the Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

"You only have to look at the number of buses used by shoppers to see that. I went last year and there were crowds of people arriving, despite the fact it was raining.

"The fayre attracts people from Wales as well as the West Midlands."

The city centre manager, Georgia Smith, said the fayre was a chance to put Worcester on display, so tourists would be tempted to return after Christmas.

Worcester City Council says sponsorship packages are tailored to suit individual sponsors. Any firms wishing to secure their association with this high profile event should contact Clare Booker on 01905 722320.

This year's fayre takes place from Thursday, November 29 to Sunday, December 2.