PRESSURE from Wickham traders has persuaded Winchester civic chiefs to move the date of the Wickham Fair in 2001 from a Saturday to a Monday.

The city council cabinet yesterday agreed to the request to break a 100-year tradition to allow the move.

Wickham Fair is always held on May 20, and in 2001 that will be a Sunday. Usually, when it falls on a Sunday, the funfair and horse trading is moved to the preceding Saturday.

But many traders in Wickham feared that would hit their important weekend trade.

City councillor Therese Evans told the meeting: "The parish council has been unhappy about having the fair on the Saturday."

There was concern that the Romany people who hold their traditional horse fair in The Square may still turn up on the Saturday.

But Stephen Whetnall, city secretary, said: "There is a slight risk the horse traders may turn up on the Saturday, but we think it is unlikely."

John Walls and Son, the funfair proprietor, and the Showmans' Guild of Great Britain wrote to the council requesting it maintain tradition. But councillors unanimously supported the change for 2001.

Businesses in The Square are delighted by the decision. Chris Laing, who manages Wispers hair salon, said: "I think it's great. It's a good start. I hate the fair. All we have to do now is get it out of the square and onto the field nearby."

Dick Warwick, manager of Warwick's hardware shop, said: "Monday is much better because shops won't lose as much trade. Some businesses make as much on a Saturday as they do all week."