GLORIOUS weather came to Ludlow as the town enjoyed the chance to let its hair down for the first time this year.

Keeping cool was the challenge for residents and visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The sun and high temperatures brought people into the town from both the local area and further afield setting the tills ringing is shop, pubs and restaurants.

It provided a chance for people to enjoy the many stalls and rides as the fair took over Ludlow Town Centre.

This involved the heart of Ludlow being effectively closed off for almost six days but people seemed happy to trade any inconvenience for the chance to enjoy themselves after one of the harshest winters in recent memory that saw three heavy snow fall between the begining of December and the end of March combined with some extremely cold temperatures that left some residents having to cope with burst pipes.

During the weekend there was a special Sunday service held amongst the various rides and involving members of Ludlow Town Council.

People who normally worship in nearby St Laurence Church were joined by residents and visitors, some of whom might not normally have been church goers.

In past years there have been some concerns expressed about the inconvenience caused by road closures and the impact of noise from revellers enjoying themselves at the May Fair.

A fair in town at the beginning of May has been part of the life of Ludlow for longer than anyone in the town can remember and has been a feature of life in the Marches and border country.

The May Fair marks the beginning of a busy and important period for the town centre.

On Saturday, it is hoped that the town will again be full and that the weather will be good for the Ludlow Spring Food Festival and the Marches Transport Festival in the grounds of Ludlow Castle.

Although the ‘little brother’ to the main Ludlow Food Festival that is held over the second weekend in September, the event in May has expanded rapidly.

It provides an opportunity to enjoy the best in food and drink from the area as well as to attend workshops and other events.

Alongside Festival will be the Marches Transport Festival in which cars and commercial vehicles from the past century will be on display.

There will be examples of some of the earliest vehicles alongside some ‘modern classics’ that have been loving restored.