Pubs and shops in west Yorkshire are having to shut for days as a controversial gypsy horse fair kicks off today.
Hundreds of travellers are set to attend the centuries-old Lee Gap Horse Fair, which takes place in West Ardsley, between Leeds and Wakefield.
The horse trading fair has taken place on Baghill Green - fields off Heybeck Lane, for almost 1,000 years.
The festival is said to have been chartered by King Stephen in 1139, which would mean it is England's oldest horse fair.
There are two fairs that take place every year; the first on August 24 and the second - Latter Lee - on September 17.
While the fair is a time for celebration for the traveller community, it can cause disturbance for locals, with some suggesting it 'divides the community deeply' and highlighted how 'pub landlords have to shut their doors for two to three days'.
Hundreds of travellers are set to attend the centuries-old Lee Gap Horse Fair, which takes place in West Ardsley, between Leeds and Wakefield
The horse trading fair has taken place on Baghill Green - fields off Heybeck Lane, for almost 1,000 years
The festival is said to have been chartered by King Stephen in 1139, which would mean it is England's oldest horse fair
John McHale sells his books at the Lee Gap Horse Fair near Wakefield, West Yorkshire this morning
Eight-year-old Katie Scarlet sits in her caravan at Lee Gap Horse Fair near Wakefield, West Yorkshire this morning
There are two fairs that take place every year; the first on August 24 and the second - Latter Lee - on September 17
While the fair is a time for celebration for the traveller community, it can cause disturbance for locals, with some suggesting it 'divides the community deeply' and highlighted how 'pub landlords have to shut their doors for two to three days'
One of the many horses on display at the Lee Gap Horse Fair, which kicks off near Wakefield, West Yorkshire today
The event is one of the biggest and most anticipated of the year among the traveller community
One landlady who didn't want to be identified confirmed that she had closed for two days, saying that they 'always close' when the fair rolls into town.
She said: 'It's so we don't get any trouble. We've owned the pub for 14 years and we opened the first year and after that we closed.'
She said that the year she opened they 'didn't have any trouble' but they struggled to get people out when they tried to finish serving.
She said: 'When it's three hours after closing time you should not be having people still in.'
She added that as far as she knew 'everybody closes' in the area when the fair is on.
She said that she
