The Appleby Horse Fair clear up: Massive operation underway to get rid of rubbish strewn across fields where 10,000 travellers gathered

A massive clear up has commenced at The Appleby Horse Fair where 10,000 travellers gathered leaving rubbish and furniture in their wake.

Shocking images show thousands of pieces of litter visible as well as plastic crates and cardboard boxes thrown across the site.

The remains of a white van can also be spotted after it was engulfed by the flames of a fire on Saturday afternoon along with a tent and stall.

The gathering is billed the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and takes place in the town of Appleby in Cumbria.

Around 10,000 people from the Gypsy and traveller community were anticipated to participate in the event this year, along with an estimated 30,000 visitors scheduled to attend between June 6 and 12.

During the event, onlookers gathered along the streets to witness members of the traveller community, including children, speeding down narrow lanes at thrilling velocities, while others observed individuals riding horses through bodies of water.

Now, images have shown the full extent of the clear up operation as rubbish has been scattered far and wide.

Thousands of pieces of litter are visible as well as plastic crates and cardboard boxes thrown across the site

Thousands of pieces of litter are visible as well as plastic crates and cardboard boxes thrown across the site

Shocking images show the remains of a white van that was engulfed by the flames

Shocking images show the remains of a white van that was engulfed by the flames

A full view of the site where the Appleby Horse Fair is taking place in Cumbria shows rubbish scattered far and wide

A full view of the site where the Appleby Horse Fair is taking place in Cumbria shows rubbish scattered far and wide

A blaze was captured on social media on Saturday with huge crowds gathering to stare as smoke billowed across the fair.

Separate video footage captured a group of at least seven officers inspecting various stalls. This activity was part of a collaborative effort between Cumbria Police officers and the Westmorland and Furness Council Trading Standards, aiming to combat the presence of counterfeit goods following the previous year’s seizure of over £500,000 worth of such items.

That included 2,500 pairs of sunglasses and nearly 200 bottles of perfume with counterfeit Cartier, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Dior trademarks.

In a video shared to YouTube, a fire could be seen burning through a white van which was set up in a corner of the field alongside a stall and several tables.

Clouds of black smoke also surrounded a tent as fair goers watched on in horror.

Some could be seen covering the faces with their jumpers and coats as they bravely ran towards the fire to start moving tables, chairs and personal belongings out of the fire’s path before a small explosion warned onlookers to step back.

Some stall holders rushed to the scene and began dismantling a nearby white tent as the van became entirely consumed by the flames.

Appleby visitors were then forced aside as fire engines and police officers arrived to tackle the inferno, with ‘woops’ and cheers heard in the clips.

Two young women travel in a horse drawn carriage during the fair on Saturday - the same day a fire broke out

Two young women travel in a horse drawn carriage during the fair on Saturday – the same day a fire broke out

A massive clear-up has commenced at the scene where 10,000 travellers gathered leaving bags of rubbish in their wake

A massive clear-up has commenced at the scene where 10,000 travellers gathered leaving bags of rubbish in their wake

Caravans can also be spotted. The fair sees the 3,000 population of Appleby-in-Westmorland swell by a factor of 10 as visitors swarm to the annual event

Caravans can also be spotted. The fair sees the 3,000 population of Appleby-in-Westmorland swell by a factor of 10 as visitors swarm to the annual event

The fire came as thousands of gypsies descended on the horse fair in Cumbria despite the rain for another day of revelry

The fire came as thousands of gypsies descended on the horse fair in Cumbria despite the rain for another day of revelry

In clips shared on TikTok, festival goers walked past the burnt-out wreckage in shock, wrapped up in waterproofs with umbrellas.

One clip showed a blackened white van and one person could be heard saying: ‘There’s stuff in the back, all the carpets and that.’

Another video showed travellers at the horse fair continuing with their day as families browsed stalls safely out of reach of the fire and tucked in to snacks from nearby food trucks while smoke billowed behind them.

The fair sees the 3,000 population of Appleby-in-Westmorland swell by a factor of 10 as visitors swarm to the annual event.

Of those, an estimated 10,000 are from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) community.

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