A fire at Appleby Horse Fair in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria has ripped through a tent and stalls, and engulfed a van
A massive fire has broken out at the Appleby Horse Fair with flames seen tearing through tents and stalls. The fair – which attracts thousands of people from the Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities – can be seen ablaze in dramatic footage being shared on social media.
In one of the clips shared on YouTube, the fire is seen tearing through a white van set up in the corner of a field beside a stall and a number of tables. The 15-minute clip also shows police arriving at the scene and firemen tackling the blaze as attendees watch on in horror. According to reports, the fire is now under control.
Each year, tens of thousands of travellers descend on the small town of Appleby in Cumbria, which is home to around 3,000 people. The historic fair sees attendees submerge their horses in the River Eden before auctions are held and horses sold. In past years, concerns have been raised about the practice as it’s understood many of those taking part can’t swim.
Traveller influencer Martina Wright issued a warning to fellow fair-goers through her social media account, where she has more than 200,000 followers. She said: “There’s so many people that go to Appleby would do anything to get on a horse but honestly not every horse will just go in and swim.
“Make sure you can swim also (I can’t swim) but I always stay on horses I know are comfortable with swimming etc.. It can all go wrong so easily and without the rider the horse could end up swimming further into the deep water rather than making its way out..
“Just be careful, take your time, if you come stuck grab the mane! Not the bridle. Stay safe xxx”
The event is said to have originated in the 1770s on Gallows Hill where sheep, cattle and horse dealers went to sell their stock. But by the the 1900s, the fair had evolved into an event for gypsies and travellers.
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