"ONE of the highlights of the year" will be returning to the town bringing smiles and laughter. 

Evesham's annual mop fair will take over the town centre for three days of family fun starting next Thursday (October 3). 

With a history that dates back centuries, the fair, which could attract over 10,000 people to the town centre to enjoy games, rides and food, brings an "electric atmosphere" according to the organisers. 

Edward Danter, organiser of The Evesham Mop Fair, said: "Next week is the annual Evesham Mop Fair. 

"It's one of the highlights of the year in Evesham and it will be going all the way through the high street and on Merstow Green Car Park. 

"Thousand of people visit the fair each day, but that obviously depends on the weather. 

"If it's a nice sunny evening we could see as many as 5,000 people at once, if it's wet and rainy we might only get a few hundred so my fingers are crossed."

Evesham Mop Fair will begin on Thursday, October 3 at 4pm and will be opened by the mayor. 

The fair will also be open on Friday, October 4 from 4pm and Saturday, October 5 from midday. 

Mr Danter continued: "Mop fairs have been going since the 14th or the 15th century and it's something the whole town can enjoy. 

"It's a busy time of year for mop fairs as they all usually happen in early October. 

"The roads should be closed from around 6pm on Wednesday (October 2) and they should be reopened by 2am on Sunday.

"It's a big thing for the town because lots of people tend to visit, take part and more importantly everyone enjoys themselves.

"Everyone should come down, it's free to walk around, the people and lights are amazing. 

"It's a special occasion that's only here for a short time. 

"Lots of people say it arrives and before they know it it's gone."

Mop fairs date back centuries but the name originates from ladies going to them with their mops and buckets looking to be hired by people to clean mansions.