With the ceremony of more than 800 years of tradition the King's Lynn Mart opened to the public.

While the fair may have evolved over the centuries, demonstrated by the pumping music and flashing neon lights, some things have not and the Mart was opened with the reading of the proclamation which has protected its right to be held in the Tuesday Market Place since the days of King John.

Showmen and civic dignitaries came to the square in a procession with many in formal dress and bearing their chains of office.

Mayors came from across Norfolk to be part of the event and mark the 812th year of the Mart.

The funfair has traditionally opened on Valentine's Day, making it the first fair of the showmen's calendar, and runs for two weeks.

West Norfolk Borough mayor Colin Manning welcomed the Showmen's Guild to the town. He said: 'The Mart has gone on for years, it is part and parcel of life here.

'It is clear from the fact of how many people turn out, and that the showmen keep coming back, that it is well supported in the community and it is traditional.'

The Showmen's Guild president John Culine said Lynn was always a town the showmen enjoyed coming to.

He said: 'It is a tradition from the 1200s. What I love about King's Lynn is that the people come out in all weather, it is lovely to see the support they have for the fair.'