CHRISTMAS has come to the city centre with families enjoying the chance to get up close to a friendly polar bear in CrownGate.

Bjorn the Polar Bear delighted young and old alike when he appeared in Bell Square on Saturday.

The life-size and incredibly life-like animatronic polar bear put a smile on shoppers' faces and are one of a number of free street entertainment going on in Worcester on Saturdays and Thursday evenings between 4pm and 8pm.

Christmas shoppers will also be able to enjoy carol singers and puppetry workshops, dance performances and fun walkabout acts as well as live reindeers and a penguin family.

From Thursday, the Victorian Fayre will be filling the streets of Worcester with stalls, fairground rides and street entertainment until Sunday.

There will also be a Christmas Fayre in the Cloisters on Friday and Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sunday from 12.30pm to 3.30pm.

For more information, visit worcesterbid.com/christmas.