There was relief and excitement this week as a popular family funfair in Allerdale welcomed people back.

Fletchers Funfair in Silloth were able to reopen on the 12 April in line with the Government’s easing of lockdown restrictions in England.

Owner, Joyce Fletcher, has been running the business alongside her children after the sad loss of her husband, Rayner Fletcher, over three years ago.

She said the driving force behind the business has been "keeping Rayner’s name alive".

She added: "It was hard at first because I have four children, but they’re all involved with it as well and wanted to keep it going.

"We thought that we would try and keep it going.

"Rayner put a lot of work into it.

"Its the only life we know as well, and we enjoy it, so we keep it going as best we can."

The Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge for the family, who were worried about the future of the business as lockdown struck.

Joyce said: “Its been very stressful.

"A lot of events have had to cancel this year as well and we thought that if we couldn’t get Silloth [open], we didn’t know where we were going to go.

"We were pleased that we could reopen, but it was a worry wondering what we were going to do."

Families who had been going to the 50-year-old funfair for generations expressed delight at returning to the place that had provided happy memories for them over the years.

"We were a bit nervous and it was a bit like that first day back at school," said Joyce.

"It went really well and it was a beautiful day for it.

"We had some lovely comments from people who said they were pleased that we were back and they were pleased to be back in the open.

"Kids have grown up with it.

"A lot of people who used to come as kids are now bringing their own down and it's lovely."