Dalton's annual market charter festival dates back to 1239 and The Mail has been able to capture the mood from it through the years.

In 1991, more than a month of fun began with the crowning of Charter Princess Louise Kite and Senior Citizen Queen Gladys Ablett and the opening of a medieval market street.

During a sun-kissed afternoon, the annual soap box derby, organised by the 6th Duddon Scouts, was held at Dowdales School and attracted entries from across the county.

It was local scout Philip Rhoney who took first prize, while the award for the best-looking soap box went to 1st Cockermouth Scouts.

Come the Historic Fair, always a highlight of the festival, dancers, singers and musicians entertained the masses around the Market Cross and there was a variety of stalls to browse around the perimeter.

Meanwhile, children were able to keep themselves occupied on the bouncy castle on the grounds of St Mary's Church.

The sunshine returned for the 1992 Historic Fair, which was a first for the Rev Stephen Skinner of St Mary's Church after moving from Dalton from Coniston.

The festivities began with a reading of the Dalton Charter Declaration by town crier Stuart Lawrence and they included the crowning of the carnival queen, who was nine-year-old Jessica Hart from Askam, who said: "We go to Sunday School and we were picked out of a hat."

There was also a photo exhibition in Dalton Castle while there were displays of weaving and traditional crafts in the vicarage.