A FESTIVE feel pervaded a city centre at the weekend as traders enjoyed rich pickings at a Christmas festival.

Thousands of shoppers flocked to Durham for the four-day festival, which culminated with a weekend of activities around the city centre.

Market stalls were mounted on Palace Green, the Market Place and Framwelgate and Elvet bridges, while wandering singers and performers brought live theatre to the city streets.

The Market Place also featured a traditional barn scene, with a donkey, a Christmas puppet show, and children's fairground rides in the shadow of the city's giant Christmas tree.

Shoppers were ferried into the city centre by a convoy of shuttle buses as part of a park-and-ride scheme in operation for the weekend, relieving congestion in the main car parks. Durham Markets manager Colin Wilkes said the festival had proved a "roaring success".

Speaking as the last of the visitors left the city centre yesterday evening, he said: "It was absolutely chocker on Saturday and even today we've been really busy.

"The figures are still to be confirmed, but I understand there were something like 40-odd bus parties here on Saturday and a further 20 today, which is up on last year.

"I think what has really impressed people is the festive ambience, which you felt as you walked round.

"It was a really nice atmosphere as you walked round with Carol singers here and music there."

Mr Wilkes said traders reported healthy takings, with rumours spreading of bank cash machines running out of money.