Thousands of travellers in horse-drawn carriages, wagons and caravans arrive in Appleby for first day of annual horse fair

Published: 10:36, 4 June 2026 | Updated: 10:59, 4 June 2026 Thousands of travellers in horse-drawn carriages, wagons and caravans have arrived in Appleby for the first day of the annual fair. Pictures show caravans in a long queue of traffic in the market town where travellers will spend the next six days showing off their horses and trading them for cash. Others show families proudly at the doors of their wagons and dogs on the back of carts. The fair is held in the first week of June and typically attracts 10,000 travellers. Streets are lined with market stalls selling everything from frilly baby clothes to pints of beer as traditional music is played. Many local businesses shut their doors for the event over fears of overcrowding and crime. So far, a sweet shop, pet shop, cafe, gift shop and charity shop have closed. Cumbria Police have introduced live facial recognition technology (LFR) at the fair in an effort to crackdown on troublemakers. However, the move was met with anger from many travellers who claim they are being singled out for their race by the AI-powered cameras which scan faces and check if they are wanted or known by police before flagging their whereabouts to the force. Travellers in horse-drawn carriages, wagons and caravans have arrived in Appleby for the first day of the annual fair Traditional gypsy wagons parked up on the first day of the Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria Pictures show caravans in a long queue of traffic in the market town where travellers will spend the next six days showing off their horses and trading them for cash It even caused clashes between leaders in the traveller community with Billy Welch, the Head Gypsy, or Shera Rom, who helps organise the fair, being accused of being an 'informant' over his support of Cumbria Police introducing LFR at the event. Already police have dealt with allegations of a youth threatening a local person with an axe, stolen vehicles, a horsebox being driven at a police officer and children riding recklessly among traffic on horse and carts. A teenager traveller was challenged for carrying an axe in Sedbergh, south Cumbria, and allegedly then threatened a member of the public. He was arrested and charged with a public order offence and a dispersal order was put in place to move travellers away from the area. In Kirkby Stephen, the youth centre was closed down due to incidents involving the travelling community. A spokesperson said: 'Due to recent incidents outside KSYC, and with Appleby Horse Fair week now underway, we have made the difficult decision to temporarily close the centre until it is safe to reopen. The safety and wellbeing of our children, young people, staff, volunteers, and wider community is always our absolute priority. 'We strongly advise all children and young people to remain safe at home throughout this coming week. While the building itself is closed to all normal activities and sessions, our youth workers will still be present at the centre during usual session times - but only for those who genuinely feel unsafe, need urgent support, would like someone to talk to, or have nowhere else safe to go.' Last week a man in his thirties was arrested after driving at police officers as they attempted to stop his vehicle in Powis Lane near Appleby. The horsebox was seized by police after two officers were struck by its wing mirrors, but were not injured. On Monday, police seized four stolen vehicles as part of the pre-Appleby Horse Fair policing operation. Others show families proudly at the doors of their wagons and dogs on the back of carts The fair is held in the first week of June and typically attracts 10,000 travellers  Streets are lined with market stalls selling everything from frilly baby clothes to pints of beer as traditional music is played The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year The vehicles - a car, two horseboxes and a wood-chipper - all found to be stolen, were seized by officers who continue to work with the National Stolen Vehicle team throughout the fair. Detective Superintendent Dan St Quintin, Police GOLD Commander for Appleby Horse Fair, said: 'Appleby Horse Fair is the biggest annual policing operation for Cumbria Police. 'Our officers work diligently and professionally throughout the Fair - as well as the lead up to it - and I will not accept people acting in a way that puts their well-being at risk. 'We have a strong and respectful relationship with the majority of those people who travel here for the Fair. 'We will continue to engage positively with people from all communities but will not hesitate to act against anyone who believes the law does not apply to them.' The facial recognition cameras received the backing of Cumbria's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen. He said: 'As Commissioner, I am the voice of the public in policing and fire services in the county so I'm really pleased to see Cumbria Constabulary consulting with the public on their thoughts surrounding facial recognition. 'Cumbria Constabulary prioritise keeping the public safe, deterring crime and dealing with criminality. Cumbria has an incredible track record of utilising technology to aid this and is already one of the leaders in CCTV use across policing in the UK. 'I genuinely believe that the use of facial recognition would be an excellent addition to the tools available for the Constabulary to use to keep our residents and visitors safe. However, it is important that we seek and give due regard to the public's views and opinions on this matter. 'I want to make it clear: this isn't a tool to spy on law-abiding members of the public.' In its 250 year history, the horse fair has only been cancelled twice, the first in 2001 during the foot and mouth outbreak and the second in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic. The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year. Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed off rural road - before being haggled over and bought. The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed off rural road - before being haggled over and bought The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885 Cumbria Police have introduced live facial recognition technology (LFR) at the fair in an effort to crackdown on troublemakers Traveller men in a horse drawn carriage during the first day of the annual Appleby Horse Fair The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there. It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, although more recent research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted. The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885. The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock. By the 1900s it had evolved into a major Gypsy Traveller event which brought families from across the UK and Europe. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.