BIRMINGHAM’S countdown to Christmas was well and truly on today with the return of the annual Frankfurt festive market.

Dozens of traders were opening their stalls for business ready to provide presents and refreshments for thousands of revellers between now and December 23.

Frankfurter Marlis Loewenthal, who owns all the market’s alcohol and food stalls, is back in Brum for the eleventh time this year.

The 56-year-old said: “The people are very friendly in Birmingham and so every year, in the last few days, they come to the stalls and say to us ‘please come back together next year, we hope we see you soon – the German market is very beautiful’ so I think we are very popular.

“People enjoy the food, the drink and the gifts. They like German gluhwein and beer, sausages and schnitzel.

“Our sausages are not so fatty, very delicious and a little bit spicy.”