A DELUGE during Ledbury's annual Mop Fair is as much of a Ledbury tradition as the fair itself, but the skies behaved themselves on Monday for the grand opening, and large crowds flocked to the town centre to enjoy themselves, on a pleasant autumn evening.

The fair was officially opened by Ledbury's mayor, Cllr Debbie Baker, who snipped the ribbon at the waltzers, an act which is also, by now, traditional for every incumbent mayor.

It is also usual for visiting local dignitaries to attend, and this year was no exception, with the presence of the mayors of Ross and Bromyard, who took part in parade through the centre, which was led by Ledbury's town crier, Bill "The Bell" Turberfield, resplendent in his regalia.

There were also representatives from various local organisations, including the police.

After the launch, local councillors and dignitaries, including Cllr Baker, enjoyed rides on the dodgems, courtesy of Rogers fun fair, which has been providing rides for the October Fair for generations.

Cllr Baker said: "It was a lovely evening, and the streets were quite full by 8pm; the crowds were out.

"I really enjoyed the dodgems and I liked talking to Ann Rogers, about the tradition of it all. This is another great tradition for Ledbury."

Mrs Rogers, the matriarch of the fun fair, famously has not missed a Ledbury October Fair for more than forty years.

But the fair go back much further than that, having its origins in Elizabethan times, when it was probably a hiring fair, for agricultural labour.