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.
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.
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.
