Birmingham Christmas market recruitment begins

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market attracts about five million visitors each year

The countdown is on for the return of Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas market, with recruitment for jobs now under way.

Birmingham City Council confirmed the festive highlight would return to the heart of the city on 1 November and run for seven weeks.

Described by the council as the largest authentic German Christmas market outside Germany and Austria, its stalls stretch along New Street and Victoria Square offering the likes of bratwurst and strudel, washed down with glühwein.

More than 300 new jobs were created for last year's market, with about five million visitors expected again this time.

Frankfurt Christmas Market Ltd is recruiting bar staff, food and craft stall assistants, and behind-the-scenes workers such as porters and glass-washers.

The organiser said visitors would also be entertained with live music sessions at lunchtimes and evenings on weekdays and all day at weekends, featuring musicians from both Germany and Birmingham.