HEART-stopping rides, side shows and food stalls will once again take over Hereford city centre next week when the May Fair comes to town.

Up to 200 showmen and women from around the country will make their way for the three-day extravaganza from Tuesday until next Thursday.

The grand opening will be at Cathedral Close on Tuesday at 3.45pm, when a ceremonial offering of 12-and-a-half bushels of wheat is made by the mayor to the Lord Bishop as payment for allowing the fair to proceed.

To ensure the smooth running of the fair, some of the city’s streets will be closed from Monday until the early hours of next Friday.

Roads to be closed to traffic are Commercial Street, High Street, St Peter’s Street, St Owen Street, Broad Street (below West Street and East Street junction), King Street and Bridge Street.

Some parking/loading/unloading areas will also be closed in these streets, as well as Union Street.

Advanced warning signs will be on all routes leading towards the city centre, but diversion routes will not be signposted.

All of the other city centre roads will operate as near as normal as possible.

The southern end of Berrington Street will be two-way between St Nicholas Street and Little Berrington Street and all of Gwynne Street will be two-way.