Fire breaks out at Appleby Horse Fair engulfing stall and tent as smoke billows across gathering of travellers
A FIRE has broken out at Appleby Horse Fair, engulfing a stall and tent.
Large numbers of travellers watched on this afternoon as smoke billowed into the skies above Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, while fire crews tackled the blaze.
In a video shared on social media, a fire could be seen burning through a white van - which was parked in the corner of the field alongside a number of tables and a stall.
Clouds of black smoke also rose high above the fair, as attendees watched on in horror.
Some were even forced to cover their faces with jumpers and coats to avoid inhaling the toxic smoke as they bravely charged towards the fire - in an attempt to move flammable objects out of the blaze's path.
Footage also saw some stall holders run towards a white tent close to the burning van before dismantling it.
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As fire crews rushed in to tackle the inferno, Appleby visitors were pushed to the side, cheering as the emergency teams extinguished the blaze.
Stall holders then continued to dismantle their tents and tables next to the fire as it was slowly brought under control.
During this time, police officers also formed a barricade in order to protect groups of people from getting close to the fire.
An estimated 10,000 gypsies and travellers, as well as 30,000 other visitors, attend the fair each year.
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