ALL the fun of the fair swung into life in Tenby at the weekend, following the discovery of a 17th century town charter.

The ancient document - the Charter of 1631, awarded by Charles I - allows Tenby to have a three-day autumn fair to celebrate the Feast of St Matthew.

The privately-owned Five Arches car park was the venue for the inaugural St Matthew's Fair, which was opened at lunchtime on Friday following a civic parade through the town.

The procession from the De Valence Pavilion was attended by civic dignitaries from Pembroke, Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest, as well as the chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, Councillor Aden Brinn; Saundersfoot Community Council chairman, Councillor Martyn Williams; representatives of the clergy and Tenby Lions and the chairman of the South Wales and Northern Ireland section of the Showmen's Guild, Dean Deakin.

The parade was led by Scottish piper Graham Phillips, and paused outside Tenby Market Hall for a proclamation of the fair by town crier Jim Cornwell.

A busy weekend for the fair resulted in "a lot of positive feedback," said Tenby Town Council's clerk, Andrew Davies, on Monday. "It is hoped that it is going to be an annual event, although we are aware there are some issues that need to be addressed in the future."