YORK'S build-up to Christmas is in full swing as the city welcomes the return of the popular St Nicholas Fayre.

Thousands of shoppers will flock to the city centre market over the next few days, with coachloads of visitors expected to arrive from across Yorkshire.

The four-day fayre, which opened yesterday, has seen open-air stalls set up in Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square, Coppergate and the Guildhall, selling a range of festive gifts and crafts.

Carol singers and buskers are providing a musical backdrop to the market activity, while DeliciouslyYorkshire - the campaign which aims to champion food and drink from this region - are on hand to provide handmade fruit cakes, hams, country wines and gin, as well as hampers and other gift ideas.

Stalls will be selling hand-painted glassware, handmade jewellery, pottery, prints and photography, and brandy-laced hot chocolate, locally-brewed beers and roast chestnuts will be on sale to keep shoppers warm.

As part of York's Christmas preparations, Barley Hall in Coffee Yard will also be hosting a medieval market and a craft fayre is being staged at St William's College.

St Nicholas Fayre is in town until Sunday and is expected to provide a huge boost to York's tourism coffers.

Last year, 600,000 people visited the city during November and December - 15 per cent of the total number of visitors during the year and 12.5 per cent more than in 2005 - and spent an estimated £50m, an increase of £17m on the previous year.

"York's Yuletide programme gets better every year," said Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau.

"Visitors flock to York to soak up the city's special atmosphere at this time of year and because we can offer gift ideas which are original and different.

"We are looking forward to a very successful Yuletide season."


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