IT may not be as big as Wellington Street Fair but one week later the air was full of music and laughter as the Springfield Road and Riverside fair kicked off.

This has become an annual event, which all the residents look forward to. In a wonderfully car-less street, Richard Fox, in full ‘town crier’ mode, opened the fair, ringing a handbell up and down the street and calling everyone out of their houses. “Oyez! Oyez! Let’s show everyone that Springfield is the best road in the whole of Somerset,” he announced to a round of cheers.

Gibby Swaine created the fiesta mood, promenading playing a merry jig on her accordion. Her ‘pop-up’ cafe on Riverside was one of the biggest draws of the day, with a steady stream of takers for scones, cakes and hot drinks. People put out their wares – from antique teapots to home-made marmalades, vintage dresses to pre-loved toys. Children had a great time running their own stalls, and the informal pedestrianisation of the street made it a safe and happy place for everyone to stroll about soaking up the sunshine.

Laura Pashley offered a free mending service outside her house and made busy on her sewing machine. Jane Digger-Barnes ran a raffle which raised £52 towards the cost of a new noticeboard for the street – a vital way for people not on Facebook to get to hear about all the local news. Anne Hanlon organised a spot-the-animal’s-name game for the local children and raised £30 for Ferne Animal Sanctuary. She and Kate Drew created some truly unique bunting by painting letters on T-shirts strung across the middle of the street on a washing line!

The ‘Ukes of Wellington’ got together to play some wonderful tunes, much to everyone’s delight. The magical sound of 20 ukuleles strumming I Can See Clearly Now the Rain Has Gone was evidently a hit with the weather gods, as the sun shone all morning. Let’s hope they are listening next year too…

ANITA ROY