DRIVERS are being warned to take extra care on Northumberland's roads as the travelling community makes it way to and from the annual Appleby Horse Fair.

The annual fair, in the town of Appleby-In-Westmorland, Cumbria, takes place from Thursday, June 6 to Wednesday, June 12. It attracts around 5,000 travellers from across the UK and Europe who attend the event to buy and sell their horses.

Motorists are being asked to be particularly mindful of the traditional horse drawn wagons, known as a Vardo, which will be making their way through the county.

The migration period through Northumberland starts 10 days before and lasts for up to 10 days after the fair dates. 

The main routes affected by the migration are:

  • A69 - Newcastle to Hexham
  • A695 - Ryton to Hexham
  • A686 - Haltwhistle to Alston and return
  • B6305 - Hexham to Langley
  • “B” route through Ponteland/Belsay/Matfen/Heddon-on-the-Wall and Horsley to Hexham