Community 'stress' over horse fair numbers

Appleby Horse Fair is a week-long event attracting thousands of visitors

People living near the site of Appleby Horse Fair say the number of visitors is putting "stress" on the community.

Andrew Johnston, a business owner in Kirkby Stephen, said more and more visitors to the annual event are stopping in the town and the situation had changed "for the worse".

A group responsible for ensuring safety at the June gathering said there have been reports of anti-social behaviour and thefts in recent years.

But Billy Welch, a Gypsy and traveller representative, says many complaints are "a load of nonsense".

Appleby is unique in Europe, attracting some 10,000 Gypsies and travellers to the gathering in Westmorland, as well as more than 30,000 other visitors.

This year's event runs from 6 to 12 June.

The Black Bull pub is closing for part of June

Tina Mitsouli, who runs the Black Bull pub in the nearby market town of Kirkby Stephen, said she had been told by police to store away outdoor wooden benches.

She added the pub would be closing from 2 June until 10 June, avoiding the peak days of the horse fair.

But Mr Welch said there had never been a problem with Gypsies and travellers in any of the pubs in Kirkby Stephen.

He said media coverage does not address the positives of the fair, such as the horse-drawn carriages and ancient traditions.

Local authorities which make up the Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group said measures have been introduced as a result of visitors previously using Kirkby Stephen as a stopping place.

It said it is identifying more sites which can be used as temporary stopping places, which will reduce the number of people parking by the roadside, and is encouraging people in the area to report any crime or anti-social behaviour.