ARMED police were outside court as a man accused of organising a fight between two rival travelling families at Appleby Horse Fair appeared before magistrates.

Alan Reynolds Cheyenne Tunney, 33, appeared at the Carlisle court having been charged with conspiring to commit violent disorder.

The Crown Prosecution Service allege the offence took place between June 1 and 8.

During the 70-minute hearing Tunney, of Yorkshire, entered no plea to the allegation.

He was remanded in custody and will appear at Carlisle Crown Court on November 21.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "This is a standard security measure put in place for the safety of an individual [Tunney] appearing at the court."