Abingdon's annual street fair is back - and this year the fun has started a day early.

Traffic diversions are in place and rides and food stalls have filled the length of Ock Street, High Street and the Market Place.

The Michaelmas fair is the longest street fair in Europe and usually takes place on the Monday and Tuesday before October 11 in the centre of Abingdon.

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But this year, thanks to an agreement between the town council and Bob Wilson's Fun Fairs, the festivities started on Sunday - a day early.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) There was a traditional service to bless the fair in the Market Place at 3pm, involving the town councillors, and the fair opened at 4pm following a free ride on the galloping horses.

Lydia and Rosa, stallholders selling candy floss and doughnuts, welcomed the new start time.

Lydia said: "Three generations of our family have been coming to this fair.

"I think this is the first time it has started on a Sunday - it's positive and works well for us."

(Image: Andy Ffrench) The Michaelmas Fair and the Runaway Fair began as a way to hire labour in the period after the Black Death in 1348, when the population fell by upwards of 40 per cent, giving workers more power to seek work elsewhere. 

Skilled workers would carry the tools of their trade over their shoulder, while unskilled workers would carry a mop instead, which is why the fair is sometimes known as the ‘mop fair’.

The Runaway Fair takes place a week after the Michaelmas Fair.

Both fairs are organised by Bob Wilson's Fun Fairs.