This was the bizarre moment a man brought a pony into a pub ahead of Europe's largest horse fair as stunned drinkers watched on in bewilderment.

The footage, captured on Monday at the Crown and Cushion Pub in Appleby, Cumbria, shows a white pony being trotted through the entrance and into a bar area filled with drinkers.

In the video, a man in a white T-shirt and shorts can be seen walking in with the pony as stunned drinkers watch on and children get up to stroke it.

It is thought the animal's owner was hoping to secure an impromptu sale so brought it through the bar of the pub to show it off.

The 250-year-old Appleby Horse Fair begins on Thursday but already furious locals, who liken it to the Wild West, say there have been numerous incidents of disorder and disruption.

One onlooker said: 'You can't believe the audacity of these people to bring a horse trotting straight into a pub.

'No one blames the landlord, there's nothing he can do when his pub has been completely taken over, it's a question of mob rule and there's nothing he could have done.

'It was clear that the horse was being put up for sale and was being shown off to potential buyers.

'It's bad enough that the streets of the town are taken over for horse trading without it happening inside our pubs as well.

'Every year we go from a peaceful town to being overrun by drink-related disorder in the streets that make the place look like a town from the Wild West.'

Appleby Fair Community Group, set up by local people to oppose the 'infliction' of the fair, says there have already been numerous concerns reported.

The AFCG reports eggs being thrown at people and passing cars, liquid thrown at people or squirted from water pistols and drunken fights breaking out on the streets of Appleby and neighbouring Kirkby Stephen.

Appleby Primary School will be closed on the first full day of the fair following a risk assessment over the safety of children.

A farmer claims travelling families have slashed open hay bales to feed horses and a new bar area will be opened in a field adjacent to the showground despite the objections of locals.

The group has carried out a survey of 500 local people with a total of 89 per cent saying they don't feel safe and 84 per cent of business owners saying their income falls.

The survey concluded: 'There is an undertone that the authorities don't listen to our suggestions, desires or concerns. 

'People don't believe Multi Agency Strategic Co-ordinating Group (MASCG) or their local town council has any desire to change anything. Many feel it's hopeless and have come to expect they may have to put up with this every year until there is a disaster.'

Mark Jenkinson MP, who is the Conservative Party candidate for Penrith and Solway, urged police to act on behalf of local people and not let 'political correctness' stop them.

He said: 'If I am fortunate enough to be elected, I will be listening closely to residents' concerns.

'It is disappointing that some of these residents do not feel their voices are being heard by the authorities — and I would urge the police not to let political correctness get in the way of enforcing the law.'

The event in Cumbria is expected to see 30,000 visitors over the next week, 10,000 of them from the gypsy, Roma and traveller community.

In its 250 year history the fair has only been cancelled twice, the first in 2001 during the foot and mouth outbreak and the second in 2020 due to the pandemic.

The gathering is billed as the biggest traditional gypsy fair in Europe and has developed traditions that take place every year.

Gypsy horses are washed in the River Eden in Appleby and trotted up and down the 'flashing lane' - a closed off rural road - before being haggled over and bought.

There is a market on Jimmy Winter's Field with stalls selling everything from fashion to horse-related wares.

The fair is held outside the town of Appleby, at the point where the old Roman Road crosses Long Marton Road, on Gallows Hill, which was named after the public hangings that were once carried out there.

It was once thought the fair originated from a royal charter to the borough of Appleby from King James II of England in 1685, although more recent research has found the charter was cancelled before it was ever enacted.

The gathering is sometimes known as 'the New Fair' because Appleby's medieval borough fair, held at Whitsuntide, ceased in 1885.

The 'New Fair' began in 1775 for sheep and cattle drovers and horse dealers to sell their stock.

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By the 1900s it had evolved into a major traveller event which brought families from across the UK and Europe.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: 'It appears the issue was youths purchasing tomato ketchup and eggs and throwing them around in the street.

'We have liaised with the local shops re advice around sale of such items to children.'