Summer may only just be over but the countdown to Christmas in Manchester has already begun.

Manchester’s hugely popular Christmas Markets will return to the city on Saturday November 14, the council has announced.

And the Christmas lights switch-on will take place the week before, on Saturday November 7.

The council’s city centre chief, Pat Karney, said: “Nobody does Christmas like Manchester. I’m counting down the days - it’s my favourite time of year.

“We’ve usually had the lights switch-on on a Thursday or Friday night but this year we’re doing it on a Saturday night to enable more families to come.

“We’re very conscious of all the road works in the city centre but we’re hoping to dress it up in the way Father Christmas would want.”

This year’s markets will be spread across 10 sites, with stalls returning to the Corn Exchange for the first time since its £30m revamp.

The Market Street and Cathedral Gardens markets, which were new additions last year, will also be back.

“We’re making them both bigger this year because the demand is so huge,” said Coun Karney.

“Market Street was a roaring success. All the traders were really pleased and wanted to go back, so this year it’s going to go right up to the very top by Primark.”

Albert Square will host the main market hub again, which will be open from from 10am to 9pm daily.

There will also be stalls in Brazennose Street, King Street, St Ann’s Square, Exchange Street and New Cathedral Street.

Those sites, along with Market Street, Cathedral Gardens and the Corn Exchange, will be open from 10am to 7.30pm in November and until 8pm in December, with their bars remaining open until 9pm.

The markets will be open for over five weeks before packing up for another year on Monday December 21.