Christmas market event returns to Yorkshire city

Last year's event helped create Leeds city centre's busiest day for footfall in five years, the council says.

The festive season has officially started in Leeds with the opening of its Christmas market.

The annual attraction has returned to City Square along with a "winter wonderland" offering in Millennium Square, with tens of thousands of people expected to visit over the coming weeks.

Leeds City Council said the City Square market would run until 21 December, with an outdoor ice rink, stalls and attractions open until New Year's Eve.

The authority said last year's Christmas events helped to create the city centre's busiest day for footfall in five years.

Richard Hotchin, who has a stall selling Dutch pancakes and soup, said the attraction meant "the whole city would buzzing about the fact it's Christmas".

Mr Hotchin said the festive food and drink stalls were important for small businesses at a key time of the year.

"It's major for us," he said.

"We've had a really up and down year, so hopefully the market will attract a lot of people and we can try and earn a bit of money to pay for Christmas presents."

Richard Hotchin says the Christmas market is vital for small businesses at an important time of the year

What can visitors expect?

The attraction features 60 decorated chalets in City Square.

Bars will be located both in City Square and Millennium Square, with a tipi serving drinks in Victoria Gardens.

Organisers said festive market stalls would sit alongside fairground rides including a carousel, big wheel and an ice-skating rink.

An artisan market will be held on Bond Court, off Park Row, "celebrating independent producers" every Thursday to Sunday each week running through to 21 December.

The City Square market runs until 21 December

Opening times at City Square

According to the event website, market stall opening hours are 10:00 to 19:00 GMT from Monday to Wednesday.

Thursday to Saturday will see slightly longer opening hours, with the event starting at 10:00 and closing at 21:00.

Sunday hours are 11:00 to 18:00.

Opening times at Millennium Square

Organisers said market stall opening hours are 12:00 to 21:30 from Monday to Thursday, with stalls closing on Friday at 22:00.

On Saturday, the event opens at 11:00 and closes at 22:00.

On Sunday, stalls are open between 11:00 and 19:00.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.