Birmingham’s Christmas market opens to visitors

Birmingham’s annual Frankfurt Christmas Market has launched and is expected to attract millions of visitors to the city.

The event, on New Street and Victoria Square, opens each day at 11am and runs until 24 December.

Organisers of the market said earlier this year that the event was safe from the city’s financial crisis after Birmingham City Council declared itself effectively bankrupt in September.

A five-year deal for the event to continue to 2027 remains in place, organisers said.

The market has an annual economic value of £350m and features more than 100 stalls while supporting more than 7,000 jobs.