CROWDS of visitors flocked to Kirkby Lonsdale last weekend to soak up the atmosphere of a bygone era, reports Jennie Dennett.

The town's annual Victorian Fair drew an estimated 14-15,000 people, around 50 per cent more than last year.

Visitors were able to browse a selection of Victoriana stalls from jewellery sellers and basket-weavers to rope makers, and there was plenty of street entertainment to be enjoyed, including jugglers, stilt-walkers and jazz musicians.

St Andrew's Pipe Band from Barrow played magnificently on Saturday and the Horwich Morris Dancers put on spirited performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Chairman of the Victorian Fair Committee Donald Carmichael said: "We've been holding the Victorian Fair for 24 years and it is still growing in popularity. Many visitors come from Liverpool, Manchester and the North Lakes but some people come from as far afield as Brighton. Some visitors come year-in, year-out!

"My thanks go to everybody who made it such a successful weekend."

The next event in Kirkby Lonsdale is the Christmas Fair in December and there will be a St George's day providing family entertainment early in 2005.