The Merchant Square Christmas Craft & Design Fair is back for the second year.

Christmas shoppers have the chance to escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre by instead spending an afternoon browsing handmade gifts by some of the city's very best crafters including Shindigg, The Cake Emporium and Simone Wood.

Starting on Monday December 16 and running daily through to Christmas Eve, the Merchant Square Christmas Craft & Design fair comes with plenty of unique gift ideas from handmade bath and beauty products, cupcakes and contemporary jewellery through to photography, original prints and hand-drawn cards.

And to top the experience off, there is a 20ft Christmas tree and canopy of fairy lights illuminating the courtyard to get revellers in the Christmas spirit, right next to the hub of independent bars and restaurants including Boudoir Wine Bar, Metropolitan, Arisaig, Fanelli's, Beer Café, Mercado, Bar Square and Mercado.

The Christmas Craft Fair is on from Monday December 16 to Tuesday December 24, Monday to Friday from 12pm to 7pm (excluding Tuesday 24th December when it closes at 5pm), Saturdays 11am to 6pm and Sundays 12pm to 6pm.

For more information go to www.facebook.com/MerchantSq or visit the Merchant Square on twitter @MerchantSq.