THE number of horse-drawn gispsy wagons may be down this year but the ancient tradition of running - or "flashing" - horses at a North-East fair is back.

Police banned horse flashing at last year's fair in Yarm, near Stockton, for safety reasons, but this year, it will be permitted for 20 minutes on Saturday, the last day of the fair.

Solicitors argued that banning horse flashing was against the original charter, granted by King John to Peter de Brus, the Norman lord of Skelton, in 1207, and an Act of Parliament would be needed to ban it.

The number of horse-drawn wagons at this year's fair, which opened yesterday, was down from more than 40 to about 12.

However, organisers are confident the gipsies and travellers will be back next year to continue traditions that date from the time of King John.

Mark Turnbull, a horseman and supporter of the gipsies, said: "It's definitely quieter than last year but we think it will be a great fair.

"We have a wagon and cook on wood fires in the open air on the cobbles, a tradition which has gone back years as well.

"It means a lot to our family and my own daughter was christened on the High Street during the fair two years ago."