A VINTAGE fairground, which has become an iconic feature in Maldon, has delighted visitors for the very last time.

Carters Steam Fair has returned to back in Maldon Promenade Park until Sunday, June 5 for one final time.

The company tour vintage fairground rides and vehicles around the UK every summer but have now decided to look for a permanent home and find a new owner for the fair.

The fair, which has been running since 1977, is run by Joby Carter who is the original owner’s son.

The company feel that it’s time to pass the business over to someone else to re-home and operate it going forward.

But they decided to have one final hurrah with a event in Maldon. 

Joby Carter said: “It’s great to be back at Promenade Park which is always a highlight of our tour.

“It’s such a fabulous park – waking up here feels like we are on holiday every day.

“Visitors to the fair are so friendly here and we were busier than usual last weekend – thank you to everyone that took the time to say hello to me and to chat about the future of the fair.

“I’m honoured that the fair is linked to so many lovely family memories for everyone.

“I know that people will be sad this will be our final visit, but we hope that you will visit the fair when we find a new permanent site.

“We started on a jubilee year in 1977, we are now ending on a jubilee year, it just feels like the right time to do this.”

The company estimated it has spent £250,000 on gold leaf to restore the attractions in the time they have been touring.

All the restoration work to the rides, vehicles and attractions dating back to 1890 has been done by hand including lettering more than one metre high.

Mr Carter is one of the lead experts on signwriting, fancy lettering and fairground art and has now written a book on signwriting tips and tricks and hosts workshops and virtual online courses.

The fair has one of the largest working collections of traditional signwriting, lining, fancy lettering and traditional fairground decoration in the world.