TRADERS in a North Oxford street are hoping to put it firmly on the shoppers' map, with a festive street fair.

The Christmas Fair in North Parade, is expected to bring hundreds of curious shoppers and diners to the thoroughfare - which links Banbury and Woodstock Roads.

Although the street contains a number of individual shops, restaurants, pubs and cafes, traders believe many people are unaware of its charms.

The event takes place tomorrow, between 6pm and 8pm, with all shops and businesses on the road staying open late.

On offer will be mulled wine, mince pies, and hot chestnuts, a brass band and carol singers, a barbecue, and there will also be a Christmas tree and festive lighting.

Steve Jebbett, of garden shop Town Garden, said: "We did our first one last year and a lot of people who came said they hadn't known about the street.

"They also thought it was something we did every year - so we decided we might as well."

Mr Jebbett said: "We just want to attract more people to North Parade. We are caught between the city centre and Summertown, and we tend to miss out because of that.

"North Parade used to be the 'market garden' area of the city where everybody came for their groceries.

"It had a nice village feeling to it, and we are trying to recreate that feel again. "

He compared the area to a small version of London's Notting Hill - which is known for its individual, upmarket stores and cafes.

The festivities will have a distinctly multicultural air, with African singers from arts shop Pula performing as part of the festivities. And as well as the more traditional festive fare, the road's curryhouse, Je Saheb, will be offering an Indian buffet.

Mr Jebbett said: "I'm looking forward to the buzz of it.

"We lost our post office last year and, with that, we lost the heart of the community so it would just be nice to get a bit of a buzz going in North Parade again."

Old Marston resident Ray Timms, who has written a book about his disabled granddaughter in aid of the special school she attends, will be signing copies of the book on the night.