A CHRISTMAS festival in Durham has been hailed a huge success.

The organisers wish to say a big thank you to everyone involved with the recent three-day event, and said the extra effort by so many people made the festival such a big hit.

Colin Wilkes, managing director of Durham Markets, which organises the annual festival together with Durham University, said: “The festival is always popular, but with fairly mild weather for December, people came out and into Durham at the weekend, taking the opportunity to make the most of everything the festival and the city has to offer.

“Durham Christmas Festival is the biggest event in the city’s calendar that brings people into the city centre primarily to shop.”

The festival, now in its 23rd year, returns the first weekend in December next year.