HARROGATE International Centre is celebrating a successful start to 2014 after visitor numbers “exceeded all expectations” for its first big exhibition of the year.

The Christmas and Gift show, one of HIC’s longest running exhibitions, saw visitor figures up by an average of ten per cent on 2013, according to organiser Simon Anslow.

He said: “Over the last three years, with a new organising team on board and an intensive marketing strategy in place, Harrogate Christmas & Gift trade fair has enjoyed significant growth.

However, visitor numbers this year have exceeded all expectations averaging a ten per cent increase on 2013.”