EXTRA police will be drafted into Knutsford from this weekend to prevent trouble while the funfair is in town.

Knutsford police have been forced to revise their plans for this year's Knutsford Royal May Day because the festival does not fall on the Bank Holiday weekend.

The funfair is due to open this Sunday - six days before the crowning of Naomi Murphy as this year's Knutsford Royal May Queen. "There will be sufficient police officers to cope with it," said a spokesman.

Police usually increase their presence during the Bank Holiday weekend when thousands visit Knutsford to watch the Royal May Day procession.

But this year the annual festival will not take place until May 7 because Saturday is in April.

Officers, though, said they would patrol Knutsford for nine days to prevent trouble. "Every May Day there's a police operation and this year's no different," said the police spokesman. "It's just the fact that it's over a longer period."

Some town centre landlords, though, are concerned that more than a week of festivities would cause trouble.

Darryl Crompton, who recently took over The Angel in King Street, said he hoped more traders and landlords would sign up to the town's new shop and pub watch system, which uses radios to link them to CCTV operators and police. "We're hoping for it to be quiet and peaceful though," he said.

On May 7 - May Day to the people of Knutsford - police have warned that cars parked after 9am along the processional route will be towed away.

* The fair will be open on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. It reopens on Thursday May 5 until Sunday when there will be a £3,000 firework display on The Heath at dusk.