The RSPCA and the local police are sh*t scared to intervene in case they provoke an 'incident'.

Besides, the travellers are very adept (having been doing it since 1685) at conducting their activities out of sight of the authorities. There is an 'official' fair for the benefit of the visitors and an 'unofficial' one for the serious dealing - and that's the one very few people get to see.

Westmorland Borough Council nade an unsuccessful attempt to close the fair in 1965.