I go to Appleby Horse Fair every year - this is what it's really like

A young woman who has been to Appleby Horse Fair every year of her life has hit back at claims of animal abuse and antisocial behaviour.

Lara Houlden, 29, loves the gathering of gypsies and travellers so much that she travelled from Lincoln to Cumbria for the annual celebration.

And she claims that reports of animal abuse at the festival have been 'blown out of proportion', with welfare issues happening 'wherever you go'.

This year cops made a record-breaking number of arrests at the fair - including on where a man allegedly punched a horse.

Some 123 people were detained by Cumbria Constabulary, 80 of whom were for drink or drug driving offences.