TRAVELLERS parading their mounts for sale at Appleby's famous horse fair have been given an exclusive showing lane to improve safety.

Visitors to the 300-year-old fair attended by hundreds of Romany travellers have in the past mingled freely to watch horses being washed in the River Eden as well as being put through their paces in front of potential buyers.

But long held safety concerns have prompted Eden District Council, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Cumbria police to come together to back a devoted parading lane at this year's fair which is now only weeks away (June 5 to 11).

With the advice RSPCA equine consultant David Muir, a farmer has creating a Flashing Lane' the name used by gypsies for a showing strip alongside Long Marton Road.

He said: "The lane is constructed in such a way that it will reduce the risk of injury and panic from head-on collision. The distance of the lane, around 132 metres, will also inhibit over-riding of horses."

The RSPCA has assured that fair-goers will not miss out on the spectacle of the parading horses since the Flashing Lane can be easily seen from Long Marton Road, which will not be closed this year.

Other new safety measures for 2003 include:

l A CAT (Combined Action Team) of officers from the police, RSPCA and district council to respond to problems as they arise in the run-up to and during the fair.

l On Saturday and Sunday Cumbria Constabulary's mobile police station will be based at Salt Tip Corner.

l Use of a wooden ramp in to the river to improve safety for horses jostling for a wash and a drink.

Meanwhile, at a meeting of Cumbria Police Authority's Eden community Liaison Forum last week, anxious Appleby residents were assured that travellers would not be allowed to park overnight on Fair Hill. Committee chairman Tim Heslop said people could park horse boxes while loading and unloading animals, but stopping overnight was not permitted.

RSPCA spokesman Kevin Hegarty further issued a separate plea to anyone travelling to the fair not to bring cloven-hoofed animals like sheep and goats. Under restrictions introduced after the 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic, the animals of surrounding farms would be subject to stringent movement restrictions should outside, unlicensed animals arrive at the event.

May 21, 2003 09:30