Jim Hooton, Fife Council's service manager for parks and the countryside, said more traders had rented sites after prices were dropped to the same level as those for the showmen and women.

From a point earlier in the year when there only seven applications from traders, 25 had now confirmed they would attend.

"The ground in South Street allocated for the trade stands is almost full and all the showmen's stances are taken. We had one or two vacant sites there last year. But there are more coming in this year," he told the Citizen.

Emphasising the family atmosphere at the Lammas, Billy Hammond who's been running the rides in Market Street since taking over from his grandfather, will be moving in on Thursday and starting operation today (Friday).

Signs have been erected detailing traffic diversions in place until Wednesday, next week, while the Lammas is in town. The main streets affected are Market Street, Bell Street, Church Street, Union Street and South Street.

Alternative routes for through traffic will be via North Street, Abbey Street, Abbey Walk, St. Mary Street, Lamond Drive, Bridge Street, City Road, Queens Terrace and Greenside Place.

See next week's Citizen for photographs of all the fun of the fair.