THOUSANDS of crafty pot lovers are set to descend on Preston's town centre for the town's annual Pot Fair this week -- an event that has been around forever and a day.

The history of the fair stretches as far back as 1199 to Preston's original charter.

When drawing up the document it was decided that Preston would be allowed one large fair on August 15 each year and three specialist pot fairs per year, held on the site of what is now the Town Hall.

Over the years three of the fairs have been cancelled, leaving just a summer event attracting thousands of enthusiasts to the Flag Market.

This year's pot fair was officially opened by the town's mayor, councillor Alan Hackett, on Tuesday, August 21.

Market manager David Bullock said: "The fair is a very very popular every year.

"This time there were crowds of people queuing up on Monday when the fair wasn't even officially open until Tuesday!

"Preston is an excellent location for it and the setting is beautiful too, right in front of the museum."

"It is one of the few Lancashire Pot Fairs still going. If you look back over the years there were loads, but now they have unfortunately faded out.

"The only other one I can think of nearby is in Burnley."

Pottery traders from across the country will be selling a range of goods, from cups and saucers to saucepans.

Most of the traders are from the Stoke area, traditionally where most pottery comes from, but eagle-eyed market regulars will spot a familiar face in the crowd of sellers.

Trader Terry Hennessey, who runs the Terry Hennessey Pots stall four times a week in Preston, has been running a stall at the fair for 11 years.

He said: "Preston pot fair is the longest running Pot Fair in the country.

"It pulls people in from all over the area, and to the lads that work it, it's the King of the Pot Fairs!"

The pot fair runs every day until Wednesday, August 29, with stalls remaining open until staying 8pm and 9pm depending on the weather and customer demand.

bhewes@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk