Britain's largest German-themed Christmas market, based in Birmingham, attracted a record 3.1 million visitors this year, its organisers said.

Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market set up its stalls in mid-November and closed on Thursday as traders donated perishable goods, as well as loose change, to charities which help the homeless and a children's home.

Now the largest such market outside Germany and Austria, the attraction first came to Birmingham in 2001 and has grown from having 24 stalls to more than 180 selling traditional German food and craft products.

Final visitor figures will be confirmed next month, but organisers estimate the 2010 market has improved on last year's record figure of three million visitors.

The leader of Birmingham City Council, Mike Whitby, praised the stallholders for choosing to help local charities.

Mr Whitby said: "Many visitors come from outside of the city and the market provides an excellent opportunity for Birmingham to showcase its wider retail offering.

"Once again I commend the stallholders for their generosity. Every year they are warmly welcomed to the city by shoppers and they show their appreciation in one of the most generous ways possible – by offering some Christmas cheer to people in

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