ALL the fun of the fair is coming to Tenby this week, thanks to the discovery of a 17th century charter.

The town's first-ever St Matthew's Fair will take place in the Five Arches car park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

It will be heralded by a civic parade leaving from the De Valence Pavilion at noon on Friday, a traditional proclamation outside Tenby Market Hall and an official opening by the mayor, Councillor Sue Lane, at 12.30pm.

The fair will be open until 10pm each night, getting underway from 2pm on Friday and Saturday.

Tenby's previous charter fair was the fondly-remembered St Margaret's Fair, which originally took place along the town walls before moving to the North Beach car park and then latterly the Salterns, from where it ceased some 20 years ago.

Tenby Town Council, which holds the charter for the July St Margaret's Fair, had been asked by the Showmen's Guild for a number of years about reviving the event, said town clerk Andrew Davies.

"But this could not be done, because Pembrokeshire County Council would not allow Tenby's car parks to be used during the summer," he explained.

"However, we've found another charter which allows for a three-day fair to celebrate the Feast of St Matthew in the autumn. It's the Charter of 1631, awarded by Charles I, which also granted Tenby Town Council the right to have mace-bearers."

"So we will be using that to enable the Showmen's Guild to organise the fair, with our support."