A major road has been closed to traffic this afternoon (Monday) as an annual fair returns.

Stevenage High Street became a car-free zone at 2.45pm as the town’s charter fair got underway.

The fair, which has been held every year since King Edward I granted a charter in 1281, continues until midnight, with the rides and stalls open to the public again tomorrow (Tuesday) between 2.45pm and midnight.

Parts of the High Street, Hitchin Road and Lytton Way will be closed while the fair is in progress, while Drapers Way closed at 6am on Saturday and will not fully reopen until 4am tomorrow.

Councillor Howard Burrell, Stevenage Borough Council’s executive member for children and young people, culture, sport and leisure, said: “The charter fair is one of the social highlights for Stevenage. I will be one of the many thousands of visitors enjoying the candy floss, the coconut shy and all the other fun of the fair in the High Street.”