DURHAM'S fourth Christmas Festival has proved the biggest yet, attracting an estimated 30,000 visitors to the city.

The weekend event attracted coach parties from outside the region and meant a sales boom for local stores.

It featured music, street entertainment, a crafts exhibition, market and gift stalls, while many city centre stores opened on Sunday.

City centre manager Barry Turnbull said: "It was unbelievable. It was belting. I would have said there were 25,000 to 30,000 people.

"The tourist information centre had a record 3,500 people through its doors on Saturday alone and reported record sales of the goods it sells.

"All the car parks were full and we had three times as many people as last year using the park-and-ride service.

"The traders said Saturday was good but the Sunday was unbelievable. We were surprised at how many visitors came from outside the region.

"The feedback we had was that people thought the city was really friendly and thought the festival was very good.''

The festival, organised by the Durham City Forum, traders and the city council, was first held in 1997, to win back the trade that was going to other towns and shopping centres.