DURHAM is hoping that thousands of visitors from all parts of the country will visit this weekend for the city's ninth Christmas Festival.

The festival, on Saturday and Sunday, coincides with the launch of the city's park- and-ride scheme.

With drivers being offered free use of the service for the weekend, traders hope it will swell the numbers coming into the city centre.

And 70 coaches, carrying more than 3,000 people, from outside the region are expected, bringing a boost to the city's economy.

Durham City Council's tourism manager, Martin Boulton, said: "We have worked hard at establishing Durham as an important winter tourist city.

"Durham City Council's tourism staff will be out and about this festival weekend, ensuring a warm welcome to thousands of visitors to the city and supporting the vital £90m tourism industry in Durham City.''

The festival runs from 10am to 5.30pm both days and there will be market stalls in the Market Place and on Framwelgate Bridge, a craft marquee on Palace Green, a makers and designers fair in the Town Hall and a food fair in Millennium Place.

Entertainment includes choirs and brass bands, a fire juggler outside St Nicholas Church, Market Place, from 4pm to 5pm on both days, a living statue all day on Saturday and a Del Boy lookalike, complete with three-wheeler van, also all day on Saturday.

At 3.45pm on Saturday, there will be a children's lantern procession, featuring 300 youngsters, from four points in the city to the Cathedral where there will be a children's Carol Service at 4.15pm.

Colin Wilkes, of Durham City Forum, said: "We are hoping this year's festival will be bigger and better.

"We are hoping that the launch of the park-and-ride and the free offer for the weekend will attract more people and encourage people to use it in the future."

Market Place and Saddler Street will be closed during the festival. The Cathedral Bus will still run but will take a different route through Whitegates and Prebends Bridge.

The main city centre stop will be moved from outside Boots, Market Place, to near the entrance to Millennium Place, Claypath, for the duration of the event.