A ROYAL document issued by Queen Victoria looked like it would safeguard a town's controversial fair, but a reading of the small print has revealed otherwise.

For the past 600 years, a street fair has been held in Stanhope, Weardale, County Durham, virtually every year.

But the modern problem of traffic congestion looked likely to threaten its future, as police and county council officials were unhappy with road safety.

So when news reached the town that an ancient royal licence granting the town the right to hold a fair "forever" was up for auction, no time was wasted in putting together a bid.

It was only after the Weardale Society paid £833 for the document that it emerged the licence was to hold twice yearly fairs at St John's Chapel, a village further up the dale.

The chairman of Stanhope Parish Council, Mark Oliphant, said: "Obviously the confusion arose because the document says St John's Chapel within the parish of Stanhope, and the auctioneers thought St John's Chapel was a church in Stanhope. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see it before we bought it."

But Mr Oliphant said they are still glad to have the historical document back where it belongs.

The chairman of the Weardale Society, Sue Weston, said secretary June Crosby had managed to find a copy of an earlier Stanhope charter, which also grants Stanhope the right to hold fairs.

She said: "Our secretary, has actually found a copy of the 1844 Stanhope charter, and we're going to do something like order copies to give to the parish and agricultural society as a kind of consolation prize.

"But this licence is still an exciting and valuable piece of history. It wasn't quite what we were expecting, but it is still well worth the effort. We're delighted to have it."

The document, which is dated 1846 and contains Queen Victoria's original seal, is likely to be kept in the County Records Office, in Durham City, and a copy presented to the parish council.