A SLICE of the 1847 novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray will be on show in Devizes next month when a roundabout featured in the television version of the book will be part of a May fair.

Devizes Lions' May Fair is staged in the Market Place and Corn Exchange on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6, but say the organisers it will be "enhanced in a number of ways."

The period roundabout or carousel features antiques racehorses that go round and round to period showground music while in addition to trades and charity stalls the will be a new class of stall offering artisan produce for sale.

Chris Gillings of the Lions wrote on the charitable organisation's website: "The organising of the Lions May Fair on the 6th May is gathering pace and we would welcome some help between 10am and 3pm.

"There are plenty of tasks to be done so please let us know if you fancy helping out for an hour or so - or more if you like.

"We need people to take money at the full size Carousel - as seen on Vanity Fair; help with the plant stall; help to serve Pimms, help also on the bric-a-brac stall, and to be part of the Human Fruit Machine - if you have seen it operating you know how people love it.

"We also need marshals - full briefing will be given and you can either look over the crossing to the Corn Exchange, be available to guide vehicles in the unlikely event of them moving or walk round to make sure everything is going smoothly.

"We will supply a fetching yellow bib."

Entertainment for the event will include demonstrations by the Devizes Regency Dancers, as well as live jazz music from the town's Pete Lamb.

More musical action will come from the town's Pop, Soul and Gospel choir. And as in most years there will be children's entertainers, vintage and classic cars on show from 10am to 3pm or later.

Organisers are hopeful that the fine weather experience over Easter will return in May as sunshine can make a big difference to the amount of money raised for local causes.

In 2014 a warm spell meant the Lions raised more than £2,000 for charities in the area. It's all in contrast to 2017 when Wiltshire Council prevented the fair from taking place on the grounds of health and safety legislation.