In Pictures: Crowds flock to Warwick's annual Mop fair for its first of two weekends

The town's market square and the surrounding streets were lined with fairground rides, stalls and games for the first weekend of the historic fair.

The event traces its history back around 700 years to a time when local agricultural workers and domestic servants sought employment.

They would be hired for a week, to assess their skills and for them to get to know their new employer.

If either party was unhappy they were free to change and seek different employment at the Runaway Mop, however this was risky as if they agreed to a contract then, they were hired for the year.

The Runaway Mop, the second weekend of the fair, will return this weekend and take place from 5pm to 10pm on Friday (October 25) and from noon to 10pm on Saturday (October 26).