Coronavirus: Appleby travellers defy cancellation 'to keep fair alive'

Appleby has hosted an annual horse fair for hundreds of years

A small group of travellers went to Appleby to keep the annual horse fair tradition alive despite it being cancelled, a community spokesman said.

Traveller spokesman Billy Welch said six people went amid a centuries-old fear that if no horse deal was done on the site, the fair would be lost.

Cumbria Police said up to 100 people then turned up in the town on Sunday, against the social distancing advice.

Mr Welch said they were spectators and the event was quickly "wrapped up".

The annual fair, said to be Europe's largest traveller and Gypsy gathering, normally attracts up to 40,000 people across four days, but this year's event was cancelled amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Appleby horse fair (pictured in 2018) usually attracts up to 40,000 people to the town

Mr Welch, who did not attend, said there was "an agreement" for a small group to go into the town with a couple of horses.

He said: "There's a charter to the fair and a very old cultural belief among our people that if there isn't a horse deal done down on the sands or out in the field the charger can be revoked

"They did it in a very responsible way and with a common sense approach.

"It didn't affect anyone in any way, shape, or form, and it wasn't a danger to anybody."

However, he said word got out and between 50 and 100 spectators turned up in cars. Mr Welch said at this point the "few lads immediately wrapped it up".

Mr Welch added that no-one stayed overnight.

Cumbria Police said with lockdown rules changing they could not have stopped people coming to Appleby and officers were in the town to talk to travellers.

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