HEAVY rain affected the number of visitors to one of the region's oldest fairs at the weekend.

However, the traditional 'flashings' at Yarm Fair, when horses are paraded up and down High Street for the benefit of prospective buyers, went ahead.

The flashings followed a ceremonial 'riding' round the town boundaries by members of Yarm Town Council.

Traditionally, the gipsy fortune-tellers park their caravans at one end of the Georgian high street, while members of the Showmen's Guild erect their carousels and side shows at the opposite end.

Numbers for the flashings were up on last year with eight horses and two ponies displayed.

But the weather had the last word and several late-coming fair people had no sooner arrived than they were heading home again as the rain continued to fall.

Historically, Yarm Fair ends at midnight on the Saturday of fair week, but by 11pm it had wound down, bereft of customers.

Traveller, and solicitor, David Yorke said: "The riding, followed by the flashings, went off very well indeed.

"Fortunately, it did not rain during that particular part of the day.

"But, the fair was fairly quiet and I think at the showmen's end, they were not as busy as usual. Obviously, rain over the whole weekend put a lot of people off."