THE first week in May is usually the time when roads in Hereford close and cars are replaced by fair rides, but this year that's not the case.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) should have been the opening of Hereford's May Fair, but it's just one of the many events cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

In line with government advice during the global pandemic, the decision was made in March to cancel the Hereford and Leominster May Fair events for 2020.

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A joint announcement by the organisers of each event states: "Our number one priority has always been and remains the safety and wellbeing of our members and customers.

"Whilst our members are very disappointed about not being able to attend and serve our loyal customers, we are obviously even more concerned about people's safety and wellbeing at this time.

"We look forward to returning to both venues next year and seeing you all then, when we will mark the significant milestone of 900 years since the first chartered fair entertained the people in Hereford."

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For the event in 2019, these pictures capture the fair with its usual mixture of traditional ceremony, screams of excitement and the aromas of hot dogs and candy floss.

The Leominster fair traditional held on the Thursday to Saturday before the fair moves to Hereford and opens on the Tuesday which follows the first weekend in May.

In Hereford, the event was originally called St Ethelbert’s Fair, and was started by a royal charter granted to Bishop Richard of Hereford in the 12th century. Since the 1800s it has been a three-day event, and next year (2021) it will celebrate its 900th anniversary.

It is still opened by a procession, followed by a ceremonial offering of 12-and-a-half bushels of wheat by the city’s mayor to the bishop as payment for allowing the fair to proceed.