The clattering sound of hooves down Appleby's streets means one thing - the horse fair is back.

This year's fair has got off to a damp start with members of the Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group for Appleby Fair (MASCG) considering closing the river to stop people washing horses.

There were concerns that the high water level, strong current and low water temperature could pose a risk to people and horses' health and safety. For the moment the river is open but MASCG are keeping water levels under constant review.

Not that the horses or their riders need to go into the river to get wet as sheets of rain have been coming across Fair Hill all day.

But the bad weather has not put people off coming, the initial figures are 360 caravans and 118 horse drawn bowtops, which is about the same as last year.

About 5,000 travellers and gypsies are expected to come to the fair where they will buy and sell horses, reconnect with old friends and meet their future husbands and wives.

Gypsy Billy Welch, who has run the fair for the last 18 years and whose dad ran it before him, described the fair as sacred to his community and was not put off by the wet weather at all. It was apparently much worse 19 years ago when heavy rain fell for a solid week.

Members of MASCG were very positive about the start of the fair.

Robin Hooper chair of the group said: "Appleby Horse 2017 is underway this morning and I would like to thank those members of the gypsies and travellers community for again not arriving too soon with their trailers, the number of early arrivals in on par with recent years, helping to reduce the impact of the Fair on rural communities.

"The ramp used at Appleby Fair for washing horses in the River Eden was not closed at 12 noon today as anticipated as the level of rain forecast did not fall sufficiently to raise the river level past the 0.5m safety guideline. We are continuously monitoring the river level to protect the safety of animals and the public.

"The operational planning by MASCG for this year's Fair has gone well and we ask people attending the Fair to respect the local communities in and around Appleby and use the amenities provided for the event and dispose of their rubbish correctly and not dispose of rubbish on private land which causes a nuisance to land owners and as well as being an offence. The council investigates throughout the year instances of fly tipping and does take action where the evidence exists against those responsible as an incentive in part to discourage any future such unlawful activity."

The RSPCA, which is also part of the multi-agency group, reminded anyone visited the fair to not take their dogs.

The fair runs until Sunday.