• Did you go to the Victorian Fayre this year? What did you think? Tell us in the comments box below.

MORE than 100,000 visitors packed the city’s streets for another bumper Victorian Fayre.

Thousands of visitors thronged Worcester during the four-day event, which ended yesterday.

With more than 120 guest stalls, a quarter of them new for this year, and more than 100 musicians and street performers wowing shoppers there was plenty of reasons for people to visit.

The hard-working members of the Worcester Round Table were roasting up chestnuts for good causes and there was even a stall all the way from Spain selling leather goods.

There were a host of food stands selling hot pork rolls and other tasty treats to munch on, from the High Street and New Street to Friar Street, although some may have struggled to keep their food down with the fairground rides including a big wheel, dodgems and merry-go-round.

Nadja von Dahlen, Visit Worcester events co-ordinator, said everything had gone well despite fears visitors may not be keen to spend with the current economic hardships.

However, stall-holders’ pitch fees were frozen this year while more existing shops decided to put out their own stalls in addition to the temporary pitches.

And organisers reinforced the Victorian theme with “95 per cent” of stall-holders wearing a top hat, waistcoat or petticoat to bring back the atmosphere of a traditional 19th-century Christmas.

There was an award for best dressed dapper gent, which went to Charles Baynon, and to Claire Powell for best dressed lady.

Fudge Heaven of Bromsgrove got the public vote for best food and drink stand and Mia Mia Jewels got the gong for best arts and crafts stall.

Coach-loads of visitors from nearly every corner of England and Wales descended on the city but a “military-style operation” involving police escorts and event staff kept the city’s roads moving despite booming visitor numbers.

“We’ve had about 100,000 visitors this year and we’re really satisfied with a lot of stalls selling out by Sunday,” said Miss von Dahlen.

"Local businesses are also happy as people have been spending.

“The fayre has done its job drawing people into areas of the city they might not otherwise be familiar with and introducing Worcester to more people.”

Marc Bayliss, Worcester City Council’s cabinet member for economic prosperity, said the event was “very enjoyable as always” and even ended up on one of the fairground rides with his young family.

“It is an excellently run event and there is always plenty to catch the eye,” he said.

He said the city council, which is looking at its tourism strategy in the next few months, was “totally committed” to keeping both the fayre and the Christmas lights switch on as long-term visitor draws.

He said the format had been so successful other towns had copied Worcester and transported the event around the country although “Worcester remains the best example of its kind”.

Next year will be the fayre’s 20th anniversary.

• Click here for our gallery of pictures from the fayre.