YARM’S annual fair is still as popular as ever, according to a poll carried out by residents.

The fair has returned to the town again this week, where it ran from Thursday and finishes today – but it has proved controversial in recent years, with businesses seeing a huge drop in footfall due to lack of parking.

Traffic also builds up even more than usual during fair week.

However, a poll carried out on the Yarm-on-Tees Facebook site showed overwhelming support for the fair, which dates back to the 13th century.

Almost 300 people said they believed it was good for Yarm, with just 50 saying it was not. Eight said they didn’t know, and one said they didn’t care.

Town councillor Jason Hadlow said: “There is always a debate over Yarm Fair. Some people like it, some simply don’t. It’s a bit like Marmite.

“It can divide opinion and there are people on both sides with very sound arguments.

“But the bottom line is the fair has a charter that was granted by King John and that is it. It is going to come every year whether anyone likes it or not.”

Many businesses close during the week of the fair as customers struggle to park and traffic builds up.

But Mr Hadlow said: “It’s something for people to look forward to.

“I understand that the retailers have difficulty though. It is a good time of year for them, in the run-up to Christmas, and they suddenly have to shut for a week because no-one is shopping in Yarm.”

About 17 big rides fill the High Street this year, as well as food stalls, children’s games,traditional Romany caravans and fortune tellers.

The three-day event is organised by the Showmen’s Guild in the north.

Today the traditional “Ridings” event takes place at 11am, seeing local councillors and the Showmen’s Guild meeting at the Waltzer ride before being paraded around the town on a carriage.

A large, eighteenth century horn is blown and horses are paraded up and down the High Street.

One resident on the Facebook poll said: “I love the fair coming in. It’s something to look forward to in the first cold, dark month of winter.”

More than 100 years ago the fair was famous for trading of cheese and livestock but now it has become mainly a funfair, apart from the ceremonial Ridings event. Livestock sales finished in the 1970s.

Travellers started to arrive on Tuesday with the official opening taking place on Thursday. The main fair day is today, with road closures in place.