A genteel market town breathed a huge sigh of relief today as 2,000 gypsies from a Christian festival packed up and started to clear out after days of anti social behavior, drag races and looting.
Business owners in Oakham, Leicestershire, said they would finally re-open shops and restaurants after the travellers began to leave the Rutland Showground which had hosted the annual Light and Life Church convention since Saturday.
It comes after thugs ran amok and left traders too scared to open as thousands of people headed to the Christian music event.
Residents living near the site blamed travellers for brawling in pubs, abusing staff, shoplifting from Aldi and M&S and food fights at McDonalds.
Shops on Mill Street, which is lined with designer clothes stores, art dealers and restaurants, had remained largely shut or open by appointment only since Monday.
Travellers began to leave Oakham, Leicestershire, today after attending the annual Light and Life Church convention on Saturday
Caravans were spotted leaving the Rutland Showground after thousands of people headed to the Christian music event
This weekend thugs ran amok and left traders too scared to open their stores. Pictured: A police van outside a McDonald's near the Rutland Showground in Oakham
But gallery manager Suzie Beecroft said today: 'It looks like we can finally open again after being closed all week.
'It had been particularly galling to close our doors again because we'd only recently reopened after Covid but the gallery owners did not want to take any chances. I hope we can get back to normal as soon as possible.'
Partners clothes store, Lucy Flint Jewellery, Baba of Mine, a boutique baby clothes shop, and Gladwells, another art dealers, remained closed today.
Others, including Cavells, a designer fashion store, and the Equilibrium beauty salon were open but only by appointment.
Selena Bailey, who owns Equilibrium, said: 'I think the word I'd use is relief.
'We were not prepared for the sheer volume of traffic and people we've had in town over the last couple of days.
'There hasn't been any major problems on Mill Street this week with any of those attending the fair but we felt we had to be cautious after the issues that other parts of the town had experienced over the weekend.
'All this week I've been closed to everyone apart from those who had already booked appointments so hopefully by the weekend it'll be business as usual.'
Clothing and jewellery store, Snapdragon, had been one of only a handful of businesses who remained open on Mill Street.
Owner Debbie Oakes said: 'We have had a policy of only having two customers in at any one time and throughout Monday the door was locked so anyone wanting to come in had to knock first.
Residents living near the site said they would finally re-open shops and restaurants after the travellers began to leave today
An aerial view of the massive religious festival near Oakham in Rutland which saw thousands of travellers descend onto the scene
Residents living near the site blamed travellers for brawling in pubs, abusing staff, shoplifting from Aldi and M&S and food fights at McDonalds
Thousands of travellers were today spotted leaving the site in Oakham which played host to the Christian festival
'I have to say that we did feel a little vulnerable after the trouble at the weekend but we had no issues and so relaxed things yesterday and left the door open.
'From what I've been told, the trouble on Saturday and Sunday was from travellers who aren't really involved with the religious festival but who came into town on the back of it.
'They've now gone fortunately and the Showground is beginning to thin out, although I've heard that there's a big service tonight that some are attending especially.'
Police continued to patrol Oakham and surrounding villages as local pubs and restaurants remained closed.
Groups of travellers are said to have started fights in the Captain Noel Newton, a large Weatherspoon's pub, and at another bar called Jinky's in the centre of Oakham.
