PUBS and shops have SHUT their doors for "days" as a traveller horse fair kicks off near Leeds.

       Lee Gap Horse Fair will take place today in West Ardsley and will see hundreds of travellers descending on the area.

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       The Lee Gap Horse Fair has been going on for nearly 1,000 years - but can cause disruption for some locals Credit: MEN Media

       The horse-trading fair has taken place on the fields of Baghill Green for almost 1,000 years.

       The fair is said to have been chartered by King Stephen in 1139 - making it England's oldest horse fair.

       There are two fairs that take place every year; the first on August 24 and the second – Latter Lee - on September 17.

       While the fair is a time for celebration for the traveller community, it can cause some disturbance for some locals.

       One resident said that the fair "divides the community deeply" and highlighted how "pub landlords shut their doors for two to three days".

       One landlady, who didn't want to be identified, said she's closed for two days - adding that they "always close" when it's on.

       She said: "It's so we don't get any trouble.

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       "We've owned the pub for 14 years and we opened the first year and after that we closed."

       She said that the year she opened they "didn't have any trouble" but they struggled to get people out when they tried to finish serving.

       She said: "When it's three hours after closing time you should not be having people still in."

       The landlady added that as far as she knew "everybody closes" in the area when the fair is on.

       She added that she wasn't aware of any issues being caused in previous years - and they tend not to hear too much from the travellers.

       The landlady said: "I presume they're alright because we don't hear of trouble.

       "But it's always different when there's alcohol involved. A pub is different to a shop.

       "You don't want the risk."

       Police come around the pubs two weeks before the event to advise the businesses and to get in touch if there are any issues, according to the landlady.

       Another resident said that he had heard of there being trouble at other pubs in the area in the past - but that he had been down to the fair a few times in the past and enjoyed himself.

       He said: "Some of the old traditional caravans that they're in and the music and accents are amazing."

       'RISKY BUSINESS'

       The man also said that there can be issues caused with parking and getting around on the roads when they arrive.

       Traditionally, the fair was said to centre on cloth and horse dealing and during medieval times dealers in cloth arrived from western Europe.

       The name of the fair comes from the changes after the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1500s.

       The local vicar, Dr Lee, made arrangements for the fair to continue, and it was named after him.

       At this time travellers started coming to the fair and have continued to do so ever since.

       This comes after dozens of travellers pitched up at a Devon beauty spot - as furious locals say summer is "ruined".

       An encampment has been set up on the seafront at Paignton as thousands of Brit staycationers head to the coast for breaks.

       And residents living in the holiday hotspot say the visitors have even brought along inflatables to make the most of their trip.

       Earlier this year, a group were pictured soaking up the sun in posh Kew Green, West London.

       The group set up camp in the affluent suburb, where homes sell for more than ￡2million, after arriving one evening with 12 caravans and other vehicles.

       And last week, residents in Cheddar, Somerset, went into "lockdown" after a Christian festival drew in 1,000 campers.

       Pubs, shops and churches in the village were forced to close for the week after they were reportedly abused by revellers "causing havoc".

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       The horse-trading fair has taken place on the fields of Baghill Green for almost 1,000 years Credit: MEN Media 3

       The fair is a time of celebration for the traveller community Credit: MEN Media

       Appleby Horse Fair: Members of the traveller community gather for the historical horse fair