A year of planning will be tested today as one of the biggest dates in Cumbria’s calendar arrives – the start of Appleby Horse Fair.

The largest traditional gypsy and traveller gathering in Europe swells the population of the Eden town each year, with public agencies linking up so it goes smoothly.

Thousands will attend the fair – and organisers have urged visitors to do their bit to make sure there are no problems.

People attending the event can expect to see the traditional activities of travellers conducting horse sales and horses being washed in the river, as well as pulling painted caravans and wagons.

Billy Welch is the gypsy and traveller representative among those planning the fair.

He said: “All the plans we’ve put in place are all coming together.

“We haven’t had too many people in the area too soon.”

Mr Welch said arrangements were worked on “all year round”.

“The week after it finishes we have our first meeting to start planning next year,” he added.

Key advice included being aware of the hazards that could present themselves.

“When you are walking around be aware you are at a horse fair,” said Mr Welch.

“They are animals. Be cautious around the animals, be careful.”

Officers from the RSPCA were poised to pull on their drysuits to make a final sweep of the river Eden ahead of the fair.

The organisation has already removed about half a tonne of dangerous debris from the patch popular for the washing of horses.

This included gates, fence posts and rusty farm equipment.

RSPCA chief inspector Rob Melloy said: “It could have been a real danger to horses and people.

“It is something we usually do before the fair starts, which I’m not sure people realise.

“But this year we wanted to put extra emphasis on it given the recent floods.”

Mr Melloy warned against leaving pets in hot cars, saying if dogs were considered in danger they would be removed by any means necessary.