THE fun of the fair is everyday work for a showman whose latest attraction has turned out to be piece of transport history

Paul Evans' newly-restored Fantasia Funhouse will spend the summer being toured around 60 fairs and fetes across the Showmen's Guild Northern Area.

He built the ride on a 28-year-old B-series ERF wagon, which has turned out to be the oldest model of its kind still working.

Since it was featured in a trade magazine, Paul and his wife, Lucy Ann, have taken calls from enthusiasts across the globe and has been able to trace its chequered fairground career.

It started out as a ghost train, went on loan to a theme park in Taiwan and went to Cornwall, before Paul brought it back to Spennymoor, County Durham, in 2000.

Paul redesigned the ride and is constantly adding new features, including a smoke machine.

He has had a life-long love affair with the fairground after spending every weekend helping his uncle, John, with his waltzer.

His smaller attractions are already regular sights at local fairs, fetes and markets and there are also a lot of charity and corporate events on his calendar.

Paul said: "I live for it. I put my heart and soul into my job and I love every minute of it.

"Over the winter I have been putting in 14-hour days on restoration work. People think showmen have the winter off but it is entirely the opposite. We never stop."

The funhouse's first charity outing of the season is on March 15 and 16 at the Iron Horse pub car park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, at a fundraising event for the Ann Teasdale Appeal. Anne suffers from a crippling illness and needs urgent surgery in the US.

Paul can be contacted on (01388) 777045.