Fearful village forced to shut up shop while hundreds of travellers parade through streets

A small Hampshire village was forced to shut up shop when travellers turned up for its annual horse fair.

The yearly Wickham Horse Fair brought crowds to the village of just 2,000 - with horses and ponies lining the streets for sale.

Attendees were spotted carrying long whips through the square, while youngsters drove horses before onlookers.

But the newfound visitors sparked fury among locals after parking vehicles on a World War Two memorial and near a graveyard.

Several cars were parked on the grass of the village war memorial, leaving residents angry at what they described as a lack of respect.

The 750-year-old tradition brought the sleepy village to a complete halt.

Nigel Prior, 68, a member of the local neighbourhood watch, told the Daily Mail: "It's a nightmare everywhere. They are just on everything."

Mr Prior described seeing a driver move a parking sign before leaving his vehicle near the church.

"And they are on the memorial garden - it's just disrespectful," he added.

When he confronted one motorist with two children in the back seat, the response was hostile.

"He said: 'I don't give a f*** mate,' and his kids were doing the V's up at me," Mr Prior recounted.

Residents had set down a large rock to stop vehicles driving onto the memorial - but it was simply moved aside.

"It is a World War Two memorial and they have six cars on it. The lack of respect is a bit annoying," Mr Prior added.

TRAVELLER FURY - READ MORE:

• Travellers leave locals 'in tears' after setting up illegal 'concrete slab' encampment on grassland
• Neighbours demand travellers are jailed for turning quiet fields into sprawling caravan park
• Travellers transform wildlife hotspot into illegal camp as four-acre site taken over on Bank Holiday weekend

Organisers had offered to arrange a minibus service from a nearby field for parking, but the attendees declined.

"They didn't want to know about it. Too far. So they park wherever they can," Mr Prior explained.

He noted that while three events take place annually on the square, this is the only one where parking receives no consideration.

The fair's royal charter status means organisers face no obligation to address the issue.

Roads, shops and pubs all closed for the day, with the A334, A32 and busy Fareham and Winchester Roads among routes shut until Thursday morning.

One resident said they simply stay indoors with all their doors and windows sealed during the event.

"I don't like it and I don't go," the local said, adding that places close for good reason.

The fair dates back to the 13th century, when Lord of the Manor Roger de Scures obtained a royal charter from King Henry III for a weekly market.

Mr Prior noted there have been no major incidents for nine years, with the last serious event involving someone shot in the eye with a catapult.

Attendance has roughly halved compared to 15 years ago.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter