Around 40,000 people are expected to descend on the small town in Cumbria, which is home to around 3,000 people, over the next seven days.
The biggest gypsy meet up in Europe has got underway with thousands of travellers beginning to arriving for the annual Appleby Horse Fair.
Around 40,000 people are expected to descend on the small town in Cumbria, which is home to around 3,000 people, over the next seven days. The week-long event will see members of the gypsy, Roma and travelling communities taking part in the festival.
The event is said to have originated in the 1770s on Gallows Hill where sheep, cattle and horse dealers went to sell their stock. But by the the 1900s, the fair had evolved into an event for gypsies and travellers.
This year’s fair starts today and goes on until Wednesday, June 12. New measures this year have seen a 30mph speed restrictions in Appleby to reduce traffic speeds where motorists would normally be able to travel faster. There will be a one-way traffic restriction on the Boroughgate side road in Appleby.
Laura McClellan, from Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “The 40mph speed restriction on Powis Lane and temporary road closure outside The Midland, from its junction with Clifford Street to its junction with Station Road, will be in operation again for the 2024 fair.”
Cumbria Police put out a warning to drivers ahead of this year’s fair. A spokeswoman from the police said ‘let’s make road safety everyone’s priority.’ “You may come across slow-moving vehicles in the area so please drive with care. Let’s make sure everyone reaches their destination safe.”
In a joint statement, community leaders Billy Welch and Bill Lloyd said anyone who knowingly brings stolen property to the fair “deserves what they get”, adding: “We advise people to be very careful when buying a caravan, it is easy to get scammed.”
The pair praised police for using “good intelligence, modern technology and pro-active policing” to identify and recover stolen caravans, trailers and a motorhome. “Some people have been quick to claim on social media that these pro-active police actions are heavy-handed harassment and persecution,” they said. “We disagree.”