SOME 25,000 people are expected to flood in to Blandford on the May bank holiday for the town’s 18th Georgian Fayre.

After a year’s absence, organisers are hoping that this year’s street festival will be another huge success, with a French market and the town’s Ghurka community set to add an international flavour.

Committee president, Janice Driscoll, told the Daily Echo she had started the fayre nearly 20 years ago in a bid to lift the spirits of recession-hit residents during the last economic downturn.

“It’s easily the biggest event in Blandford. We’re expecting 25,000 people on May 3, and they’re all looking forward to it enormously.

“The fayre is a great PR exercise for Blandford, and doesn’t cost people very much money. It’s a real recession buster,” said Janice.

Monday’s street fair is the first for two years after organisers pulled the event from the town’s social calendar in 2009.

The event spreads from the centre of Blandford to the town’s Crown Meadows flood plain, starting with a parade along East Street.

Terrier racing and falconry displays will be laid on by the Countryside Display team, while sci-fi enthusiasts, the Galactic Knights, will don Star Wars costumes to entertain young visitors.

Organisers have made the Blandford Youth Trust the fair’s chosen charity, backing the efforts of Blandford School support worker, Ken Reynolds, whose post has come under threat from a funding crisis.

“Students, ex-students, teachers and parents alike hold great respect and admiration for Ken and the work he does.

“It is a service that the Georgian Fayre Committee and the local community feel cannot be lost,” a committee spokesman said.

The fayre starts with a procession along East Street at 10am on Monday May 3. Events will be held throughout the day in the Market Place and at Crown Meadows.

For more information, visit georgianfayre.co.uk.