ALL the fun of the mop fair came to Evesham when it staged the annual event over last weekend.

With the rain holding off, visitor numbers - estimated at around 10,000 - were up on last year.

Organiser, Edward Danter said: "I was very pleased with the mop fair in Evesham this year. We had more people there than we had the previous year.

"We were very lucky with the weather: it kept fine for the three nights."

He believed extra promotion of the event, including advertising in the Journal, had helped boost visitor numbers.

Attractions were based on Vine Street and Merstow Green and the Old Brewery car parks.

Encouraged by this year's response, Mr Danter will begin planning for the 2002 Evesham Mop Fair within the next few months.