Telling off for ancient pie fair

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A pie fair in Devon which dates back to the 19th Century has been told to turn down the music at next year's event.

Galmpton Gooseberry Pie Fair, which raised nearly £8,000 for charity last year, was reprimanded after complaints about the live music last weekend.

The centrepiece of the fair is a giant gooseberry pie which travels in procession to the village's Manor Inn.

Torbay Council said no action would be taken this year, but a Temporary Event Notice must be obtained in future.

Gooseberry mystery

A spokesman for the fair committee described the complaints as "potty" as the fair was only held for a few hours once a year.

The first record of the fair is in 1873, but it is not known why gooseberries were chosen as the pie filling.

It was revived in 1923 and again in 1951 for the Festival of Britain celebrations.

Since 1995 the fair has raised money for local charities.

The council's letter to the Gooseberry Pie Fair committee said the "live and amplified" music had caused some locals to complain of a "disturbance".

Organisers were also reminded they were governed by the Environment Protection Act of 1990.