Europe's biggest gypsy fair has got underway in the UK today, with thousands of travellers arriving for the annual event.
The week-long event takes place in a small town in Cumbria, with members of the gypsy, Roma and travelling communities taking part in the historic festival.
Some 40,000 people are expected to descend on Appleby, which is home to around 3,000 people, over the next seven days.
Many have made their way through traffic in the town centre on pony and trap, with some already taking their horses into the River Eden as part of a centuries-old tradition.
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.
Today, the Appleby Horse Fair is considered unique in Europe and attracts around 10,000 gypsies and travellers, as well as over 30,000 other visitors.
In the build-up to the fair, which began today, Cumbria Police urged motorists to drive carefully through the town.
Chief Superintendent Matt Kennerley, Gold Commander for Appleby Horse Fair, said: “At this time of year we always urge drivers to be particularly careful on the county’s roads.
"The likelihood of encountering slow-moving traffic is high so we must all be attentive behind the wheel.
“I urge people to take particular care on the A66, where fast-moving vehicles can come across slow-moving, often horse-drawn, vehicles and also the A685 in the vicinity of Kirkby Stephen, where there are caravans and horses by the side of the road."
He added: "Whilst we already have large numbers of officers in these areas, we have further increased our resourcing here, to reassure people and help keep everyone safe.
“By being aware of the potential dangers, we can all do our part to make sure everyone reaches their destination safely and without incident.”
