SALISBURY’S Christmas market was even more popular than last year, with tens of thousands of people coming into the city for their Christmas shopping. In the first 12 days nearly 80,000 people visited the Christmas market, up by six per cent on the 2012 figures.

Market organiser Stephanie Swann said: “Salisbury’s Christmas market now has reputation for the quality and variety of the gifts on sale and this is reflected in more visitors than ever.

“People are coming from near and far. The majority are obviously local, Salisbury and Hampshire mainly, but we have people coming from as far away as Yorkshire and Birmingham. Salisbury’s fame has certainly spread.”

This year’s market has seen a huge increase in the number of people visiting the market on organised coach trips. Forty-five coaches bringing nearly 1,500 people have come to Salisbury specifically for the Christmas market.

The coaches were met by specially trained stewards who gave each passenger a map of Salisbury and details of what the city has to offer. Most of the coach visitors spent around an hour at the market and another three hours exploring the city.

Graham Gould, Salisbury city centre manager, said: “This is what the Christmas market is about, bringing more people and more money into Salisbury existing shops and businesses. Last year the Christmas market pumped over £3m into the local economy and this year we hope to do even better.”