THE last Winchester Christmas Market saw people spend more money in the High Street, new data shows.

According to a survey produced by Storecheckers, visitors to the 2019 stalls spent on average 20 per cent more in the High Street than in the Cathedral Close itself.

The survey showed a £37 average spend at the market, and a £45 average spend in the city centre.

"The Christmas Market attracts around 400,000 additional visitors each year," said Cllr Anne Weir, cabinet member for local economy.

"The event provides a marketing hook to raise the profile of Winchester which is for the benefit of all. It offers the opportunity to create a message around immediacy of visit and also the propensity to attract future repeat visits.

Storecheckers' survey also found that 71 per cent of respondents said the main reason for their visit to the city was to attend the market, and that 97 per cent of visitors were from outside the local area.

Around 79 per cent state they would like to see the market continue and grown.

Cllr Weir added: "Storecheckers data survey showed that the market supplied a reason to come into the city and the city benefited from increased spend, dwell time and consumer positivity.

"The city council invests in additional services including street cleaning, waste collection and traffic management over the busy festive period.

"A lot of this activity would take place with or without the Christmas Market. However, in the region of £16,000 costs could be attributed directly to the market."