Fresh overcrowding concerns at York's Christmas market

The Christmas market in York was thriving over the weekend

Organisers of a popular Christmas market have said early data suggested footfall has increased this year amid concerns about overcrowding.

York's St Nicholas Fair, which features over 70 alpine chalets, attracts visitors from across the UK and beyond.

Concerns about numbers have been raised previously with local traders and residents voicing their discontent.

Organisers said the market layout had been revised with people encouraged to visit during quieter periods.

People who live in the area have said the crowds visiting the market in Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square can make it impossible to visit the city centre.

One resident, Beth Crawshaw, posted a video on TikTok to say the volume was making it "literal hell" for people.

Make It York, which organises the market, said early data indicated the number of visitors to St Nicholas Fair had increased compared to 2022.

However, it said it could not say with certainty whether footfall had reached pre-pandemic levels until after the market had ended, on 22 December.

Overcrowding concerns were also raised in 2022, prompting a revised layout for this year's event "with ease of movement in mind", according to organisers.

They said on-site crowd safety officers, event managers and stewards were also monitoring numbers and helping manage visitor flow.

A Make It York spokesman added: "We would encourage people to visit during the integrated quieter periods between 10:00 GMT to noon each day where possible.

"We also have the virtual Christmas market, for those who would prefer to shop with our independent traders in the comfort of their own homes."

Visitors are also advised to use public transport where possible or use the Park & Ride services.

York's St Nicholas Fair attracts visitors from around the country and beyond

According to a survey, which involved 174 visitors and 36 residents, 93% of Christmas market visitors also shopped elsewhere in the city.

The survey, carried out by Make It York in 2022, showed 80% of people ate and drank in venues away from the market.

Some local traders disagreed with the data and said the event had not actually increased footfall for their businesses.

Owner of clothes shop Winstons of York, David Skaith

Owner of clothes shop Winstons of York, David Skaith, told BBC Look North: "We don't seem to get a lot of trade off from the market.

"We find typically people go to the market, congregate there and then leave, we don't get a lot of spill over, particularly late afternoon in the week, we are very quiet."

Meanwhile, Christmas market stallholder Simon Long, owner of Shambles Kitchen, took on extra permanent staff on the strength of last year's trade.

"If you take away the business at Christmas you end up with a high street that's similar to a lot of other places in the country which are empty," he said.

"We don't want that in York, it's fantastic for York that Christmas is busy."

Simon Long of Shambles Kitchen supports the market