IF braving the Christmas shopping crowds fills you with dread, a host of Christmas markets across Oxford may offer a more relaxing way to pick up your festive gifts.

There is an organic, eco-friendly market at Gloucester Green, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The "street market with a conscience" will offer a range of green, ethically-traded products, as well as unusual gifts.

To keep shoppers warm, a refreshment stall will sell Fairtrade cappuccinos in biodegradable cups. T-shirts made from organic materials, olive oils and handmade jewellery will also be on sale and there will be a recycling point for shoes.

A special Christmas Wolvercote farmers' market is being run on Sunday, December 23, from 10am to 1pm, at Wolvercote Primary School. Organiser Ruth West said singers from St Peter's Church would come across after the Sunday service to lead carol singing, and mulled wine and punch would be on sale.

She said: "It's great for stocking up with lovely food for Christmas and there are jams and preserves and olive oils, all of which make lovely presents.

"Everybody says Wolvercote market has a lovely feel to it so it's going to be very much a celebration with our customers getting together."

advertisement And the weekly East Oxford farmers' market will have a Christmassy feel this month, climaxing in a special Christmas event on Saturday, December 22. Josie Webber, who organises the market, said: "We've got some lovely singers led by Sharron Krauss, so there will be Christmas folk music. We will be giving out free mince pies and mulled wine to encourage people to come down, so there is going to be a really nice party atmosphere with lots of things people can buy for Christmas gifts, including some Fairtrade items."

A Christmas-themed farmers' market will also be held in Kennett Road, Headington, on Friday, December 21, from 8am to 12.30pm.

From now on, Oxford's Covered Market will open Sundays, from 10am to 4pm, with late night shopping until 7pm on Thursdays throughout December.