by business editor Trevor Sturgess

It may be the start of Spring but for a Kent firm, 'is the season to be jolly.

Dream Workshop, part of the Albatross Travel Group, based in Larkfield, near Maidstone, has confirmed the Dickens Christmas Market, launched last year in the grounds of Rochester Castle, will be repeated in 2011.

The inaugural market attracted more than 120,000 visitors to the Medway Towns and would have attracted more had it not been for the heavy snowfall in December.

Nevertheless, it was still one of the best-attended events in the county last year.

Organisers are convinced there is a need for a large-scale Dickens-themed Christmas market in the county to compete with the best across the UK.

They have altered the format this year, reducing the number of opening days.

The market will be open from Wednesday to Sunday from November 30 to December 18.

Bob Cole, general manager of the Dream Workshop, said: "Following the success of our first year, we have listened to feedback from both traders and visitors and decided to slightly amend our days of opening and opening hours, in order to ensure the best possible visitor experience combined with the widest choice of goods from stallholders.

"This revised format will allow smaller stallholders to trade at the market for as little as five days, if they are unable to stay for the entire duration and this will certainly help us to expand the choice of festive goods available to visitors."

More information athttp://www.dickenschristmasmarket.com/or call Mr Cole on 01732 879 153.