DROITWICH is extending its Christmas market this year, in a bid to accommodate more people, and test how popular the event might be.

In a decision made at a recent meeting of Droitwich Town Council, councillors decided to let the market, which will take up residence in the town centre, run from Monday, December 7 to Sunday, December 13 to catch people before they finish all of their Christmas shopping.

The idea is the brainchild of Councillor Bob Brookes, who also brought back the town’s charter market in 2014.

He said: “Last year was just a short trial to see if it could be done and what the reaction was, and we got a very positive response, so we’re going to do something more this time.

“I’m very pleased. People have said that they enjoyed it, and we’d like to keep trade in Droitwich rather than going to Birmingham or Worcester.”

Joe Jones, from OnetoOne Events, which ran last year’s Christmas market as well as the weekly Droitwich’s Charter Market, added: “We did the Christmas market last year and it was a huge success, so this year we’ve made sure it’s a bigger and better thing.

“It was a brilliant start really to the Christmas season, people were over the moon because they said ‘we don’t have to travel’.”

The market is extending its run this year, from last year when it started on December 20, and hopes to include more local businesses and even people producing crafts of their own to sell, as well as featuring the return of the popular German Schokoküsse marshmallow teacakes, which are usually only available from the German Christmas market in Birmingham.

He added: “It was because it was popular, and we also said we’d give it an opportunity to grow. It might just turn into something really big and really good.

“We want local people to take the opportunity of shopping locally, and they’ll have their own Christmas market to do that away from all the queues and the hustle and bustle.”

The market is interested in providing a home for local small businesses to trade, even if they’re only producing products as a hobby. Anyone who has items they would like to sell at a stall from homemade cakes and gingerbread, to jewellery and decorations is welcome to contact OnetoOne Events on 07866 914735.

The market will also feature a small stage, and organisers are calling for local musicians and performers to get in touch if they’re interested in performing at some stage during its run.