EGREMONT Crab Fair is set to make a return this year – following a three-year hiatus.

Organisers have confirmed that the hugely popular event, which has been held in the town for hundreds of years, will be going ahead in September.

The fair was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic and last year’s event was called off following the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

The Egremont Crab Fair committee suffered a “major financial loss” by cancelling at the last minute but is now getting ready for this year’s event.

Steve Foster, president of Egremont Crab Fair committee, said: “The committee is working hard to hold Crab Fair 2023 after a three year outage - two years due to Covid-19 and one year due to the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II, shortly before Crab Fair 2022 was due to take place.

“Cancelling the 2022 Crab Fair at short notice resulted in us suffering major financial loss, but I am happy to confirm that we are still able to hold all the events that the public enjoy so much.”

Egremont Crab Fair was established in 1267, which makes it one of the oldest fairs in the world.

It combines ancient and traditional events with modern attractions in a unique way, attracting visitors from all over the world.

The event will be kicked off on Friday, September 15, with Dancing in the Street.

There will be street entertainment on Friday and Saturday, riding the boundary on horseback, the parade of the apple cart, sports and entertainments on the sports field, including the popular Crab Fest on Saturday.

Then Saturday evening will see the return of the World Gurning Championships, where the victor's crown is awarded to whoever can pull the ugliest face.

Aspatria’s Tommy Mattinson was named male champion at the last event in 2019 and Claire Spedding-Lister took the female title.