Hundreds of fun seekers enjoyed the warm weather as they visited rides and stalls at Abingdon's Michaelmas Fair.

The fair, which fills the length of Ock Street, is thought to be the longest street fair in Europe. 

Oxford Mail: Abdul Kobir, left of the Prince of IndiaWith temperatures reaching 22 degrees C it was unseasonably warm for October and lots of visitors decided it was T-shirt weather.

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Restaurants moved their food onto stands in the street.

Abdul Kobir, owner of the Prince of India restaurant, served up chicken curry to visitors.

Oxford Mail: Dillon Cohen serving doughnutsHe said: "The weather is awesome - I've never known it to be as warm as this before."

Michael Lamas, of Coffee Aroma, also served food from outside his cafe.

He said: "We're serving wraps and stuff. The weather is very good - everyone is enjoying it."

Oxford Mail:

The fair continues today and tonight and stalls and rides are removed overnight, allowing traffic in the town to return to normal in time for the rush-hour on Wednesday.

 

Traffic diversions and parking restrictions remain in place.

By law, the Michaelmas fair must take place annually on the Monday and Tuesday falling first before October 11 in the centre of Abingdon, covering Ock Street, High Street and the Market Place

The Michaelmas Fair and the Runaway Fair began as a way to hire labour in the period after the Black Death in 1348, when the population fell by upwards of 40 per cent, giving workers more power to seek work elsewhere. 

Oxford Mail: A ride at Michaelmas Fair"Skilled workers would carry the tools of their trade over their shoulder, while unskilled workers would carry a mop instead, which is why the fair is sometimes known as the ‘mop fair’."

The Runaway Fair takes place a week after the Michaelmas Fair.

Both fairs are organised by Bob Wilsons Fun Fairs.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.