THIS year's Victorian Christmas Fayre in Worcester has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

Organisers announced they had cancelled the event as the risks associated "were simply too high".

The Fayre normally attracts an estimated 150,000 visitors to the city over the four-day period and contributes an additional £7.3 million to the Worcester economy.

In a statement, the organisers said: "The decision to cancel this popular event has not been taken lightly.

"With the Covid-19 pandemic still at large, the risks incurred in allowing this winter event to go ahead were simply too high.

"Instead, a range of festive attractions to entice people to the city centre across four December weekends will be arranged.

"They will include small scale food and drink markets, a Christmas trail for families to follow; acoustic musicians, costumed characters and entertainers."

Cllr Adrian Gregson, deputy leader of Worcester City Council, said: "This is not a decision that we’ve taken lightly; we don’t take any pleasure in announcing the cancellation of this popular event.

“We are developing a smaller scale programme of Christmas events which will help to attract visitors to the city centre across December, without focusing everything on one weekend as is the case with the Victorian Fayre.”

200 market stalls were present at the 2019 Fayre, attracting 185 coachloads of people to Worcester.

The event requires a high level of support from all emergency services due to the numbers attending.

The Christmas markets in Gloucester, Lincoln and Bath have also been cancelled and Birmingham is still reviewing the status of its market.