Appleby Horse Fair travellers line A-road for miles with their horses and caravans

TRAVELLERS ready for the Appleby Horse Fair have parked up and lined a main road for miles ahead of the annual event.

Hundreds of people will descend on the Cumbrian town for the controversial fair, which kicks off on Thursday.

But already dozens of caravans and cars have stopped on the grass verge of the A685 near Appleby-in-Westmorland.

A motorist driving through the area captured the long line of travellers' homes, with horses grazing and standing next to passing cars.

The fair, in the Westmorland area of Cumbria, attracts around 10,000 travellers every year.

But this year the local council has restricted the numbers allowed to park up and attend the fair, and increased police presence in the area.

These steps have been made due to complaints from locals and motorists using the main roads close to the fair site.

Extra provisions have been made to keep the running of the fair as smooth as possible - with nine temporary stop over areas set up in County Durham for those making their way to the event to stay at.

The fair will run from June 6-9 - but the temporary sites are allowed to be used between May 25 and June 22.

They have facilities such as toilet facilities and refuse collections.

THOUSANDS SET TO DESCEND

Sgt Simon Rogers, from Durham Police, said: "Some residents accept the migration of travellers through Teesdale at this time of the year, but others have concerns about the potential for trespass and there can be feelings of unease from the settled community.

"Our joined-up approach means that, in recent years, we have experienced a relatively small number of incidents."

Last month crowds of travellers arrived at Wickham for a horse fair there - with more than 1,000 turning up.

Attendees claimed that increasing regulation was a threat to the horse fair, with too many rules restricting the fun.

The Appleby Horse Fair is primarily about buying and selling horses but it is also an opportunity for travellers to swap tales and let their hair down, enjoying the socialising and friendly atmosphere.

Sellers race and ride their horses up and down a main road to allow prospective buyers to assess their form and fitness.

The washing of the horses in the river Eden in preparation for their sale is a tradition that dates back to the 17th century.

The earliest record of the fair is in a charter from Henry II, dating from the 12th century, but it is believed to have an even longer tradition than that.

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