Buzz is back as market returns to festive form.

After four days, Lincoln’s annual Christmas Market has come to an end, with organisers, stall-holders and punters describing it as a return to form.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors descend on the city every year to kick off the festive season with the traditional German-style Christmas Market.

City of Lincoln Council director of development and environmental services John Latham said this year’s market had been a success and had exceeded expectations.

He said: “The market has gone really well and I think we’ve got it back where we want it.

“The atmosphere and whole experience is back. We’ve got some really good quality stalls, have made some changes which have worked really well and people are continuing to come.

“I don’t think it’s been as busy as this for the last two or three years.

“The buzz has been great. It’s brought people into the city and got people spending money. This year’s market has been important for Lincoln and important for the city’s economy.”

Early reports from the City of Lincoln Council revealed more than 5,000 bratwurst sausages had been consumed over the market period, whilst approximately 1,400 kilograms of pork had been used for the market’s hog roasts.

The FFN stall in Castle Square has been serving hot gluhwein to punters since the market began in 1982.

Cellarman Chris Brewer, who helps run the stall and has watched the market grow for nearly three decades, said this year’s event had been “excellent”.

He said: “The atmosphere has been excellent and the changes that the council have made have worked really well.

“It’s much busier than when we first started in 1982. It’s been a very good year this year.”

Julie Holmes, a 46-year-old mother-of-two, travelled from Bradford with her family for the market and said this year’s had been the best yet.

She said: “Transportation has been made much easier, the park-and-ride system has been great and there’s been a terrific atmosphere putting everyone in a really festive mood.”