THE first festive shoppers have begun warming themselves with mulled wine and browsing the dozens of fairy light-strewn wooden stalls at Oxford’s Christmas market.

Opened on Friday, the seasonal staple is helping the city celebrate the countdown to Christmas for a sixth year with an extended run along Broad Street until December 22.

Featuring around 60 stalls selling everything from handmade artisan German chocolate to alpaca knitwear there is provide a wide array of unusual Christmas gift ideas.

Friday’s opening was beset with heavy showers but market organiser Nicole Rahimi said it failed to put a damper of the festive fun.

She said: “It was a fantastic first day. It’s an outdoor event so you just have to live with the unpredictable weather this time of year.

“We were rained out a couple of times but people would come straight back and there were crowds all through the day.

“Especially in the dark with the lights twinkling and Jack Frost out greeting people it feels quite special.

“With the local performers from the weekend onwards and Father Christmas here each Saturday and Sunday between 1pm and 4pm, there is so much going on.”

She said people loved the variety on offer, though the traditional sausages and mulled wine proved a firm favourite.

For those seeking something more exotic, the wide range of food and drink stalls also includes Le Rack Shack, offering Alpine Raclette cheese. This is poured over crushed new potatoes and rosemary fries with smoked sausage and pickles.

Along with gift ideas, there will also be all the ingredients for a special December 25 – with everything from decorations and ornaments to Christmas puddings available.

Ms Rahimi said: “We’ve included 20 new traders this year to freshen things up but there are some who have been part of the market since 2009 when it was at Oxford Castle.”

The popular Christmas event, which is backed by Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council, moved to its current Broad Street home in 2013. The market is open from Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 8pm, and from Sunday to Wednesday from 10am to 6.30pm.