In pictures: Aftermath of Appleby Horse Fair

The last stragglers from Appleby Horse Fair are leaving the area after 40,000 people descended on the town for the annual event – but the town has been left to deal with mountains of litter strewn around the place.

Members of the Gypsy and Traveller community arrive in Appleby each year for the event, which King of the Gypsies Billy Welch described as ‘their Jerusalem’.

It dates back to at least 1685, when James II granted a charter allowing a horse fair near the River Eden, but the Roma community say they have been congregating in the town possibly since Roman times.

It is not an organised gathering, but is managed by the Multi-Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group. Despite record arrests and fines in 2022, it said it was a successful event.

Emergency powers had to be introduced after a gang of men, wielding sticks and other weapons tried to get to the town centre – but police, acting on a tip-off, managed to avert violence by forming a barricade to stop them getting into town,

Two men have since been arrested and bailed in connection with the incident.

However, residents of Appleby are now faced with its aftermath – mounds of rubbish including camping seats, bin bags, cardboard boxes, plastic and other litter covering the temporary campsite and beyond.