A TRAVELLERS' spokesman is urging gipsies to support a charter fair - and keep a centuries-old tradition alive.

For years, Romany Lawrence Wood staged a lonely protest against the ending of horse sales at Yarm Fair, by leading his pony behind local civic dignitaries as they make a tour of the town's boundaries each October.

Now there are fears that after making a comeback last year, the traditional showing of horses prior to sale, or "flashings", as they are known, will cease, following the recent death of Mr Wood.

Gipsy solicitor David Yorke said: "Yarm Fair is a gipsy fair, hundreds of years old, granted by royal charter. If we gipsies and travellers don't go, that is the end of the charter.

"We have got to maintain something that has been there for centuries, for all the community.

"Whatever the tradition, not just this one, I think it is very important to retain various traditions in this country. It is our heritage."

Police banned horse flashing after one animal, ridden by a young boy, got out of control when gipsies tried to bring horses on to the High Street in 2001, unannounced.

Following representations from the travellers and residents, the police backed down and the flashings were allowed at last October's fair, but only three ponies were displayed.

Mr Yorke said: "My own feeling is there will not be so many people there this year.''

Councillor Gwen Porter, who acts as bailiff during the fair, said: "We worked very hard to get the flashings sorted out for last year and it would be very sad if we did not get them back this year, because of the loss of Lawrence Wood. For his memory, they should carry on."