IT was party time again for Haslemere on the last Bank Holiday Monday, when thousands of visitors enjoyed all the fun of Charter Fair 2016.

Fresh from the festivities held to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and St George’s Day the weekend before, residents pulled out all the stops for its much-loved traditional fair, which is held every two years.

Haslemere Town Band serenaded festival-goers from the town hall, singers and dancers displayed their talents on a mobile sound stage, a stilt walker strolled through the crowds, and local producers and groups did brisk business at the stalls that lined the High Street and West Street.

Top of the bill at the museum, was the Charter Fair town criers’ competition mounted by the town’s bell man Christian Ashdown.

They came from as far afield as Cheshire, Devon and Wales to compete for the bronze Tennyson Trophy and also joined forces to launch the Charter Fair in style from the High Street stage.

The two-part contest featured two rounds of proclamations – ‘Home Cry’ and ‘Military Blunders’ – which were judged for volume, clarity, diction and inflection.

“It was our 10th cry-off and they were all in good voice,” Mr Ashdown said.

“The mayor Melanie Odell presented the trophy, which was won for the third year running by Lichfield Town Crier Ken Knowles.”