I went to Leeds Christmas Market and found it overpriced and too busy - but I still can't stay away

The annual bazaar returned to the city last month after a four-year hiatus.

And because that absence left festive revellers bereft of something tacky to throw money at, their expectations for its return were higher than ever.

Leeds City Council promised that the market would be “bigger and better” this year.

The first part is certainly true. The sprawling citadel of shining stalls has conquered much of the city.

With a bustling base at Millennium Square and a handful of satellite markets taking over smaller spaces, there’s little left to colonise.

A clever business move, if you think about it. Spread the Christmas market across the city and you’ll get more people in the shops.

But having said that, most of the action still happens outside Civic Hall – so the smaller smatterings of market stalls look a bit miserable.