ARISTOCRAT Viscount Sidmouth helped put a road named in honour of one of his forebears on the map on Saturday as traders staged the first Sidmouth Street Festival.

The street fair coincided with the official opening of the revamped Albion Place and the viscount wearing robes made for his great, great, great, great grandfather, who as Henry Addington was Prime Minister from 1801 to 1804, declared the area open.

Sidmouth Street, which until 1826 was known as Leg O'Mutton Street, was closed to traffic and became alive with hundreds of people who turned out to enjoy live music, examine classic cars, visit stalls and enjoy a cup of tea in the sunshine.

Town councillor and Sidmouth Street trader John Parker said: "It was a fantastic day. We couldn't believe how many people came out to support us.

"It is definitely going to become an annual event and we are already planning something else for Christmas on November 21.

"We were very lucky with the weather. The music was incredible and people stayed until 7.30pm to enjoy it. People posted lots of really nice things about the event on Facebook which was lovely.

"It really does make all the hard work worthwhile."

Mr Parker, who runs an art and gift gallery, and other shopkeepers have formed Sidmouth Street Traders Association to promote the area.

Mayor Roger Giraud-Saunders and deputy mayor Albert Wooldridge both turned out to support the fair. Devizes Town Council paid £40,000 to improve Albion Place by laying new paving and installing electricity points so it can be used as an outdoor venue for carnival and other events.

Coun Wooldridge said: "It is lovely to see so many people enjoying the area."

Viscount Sidmouth said he was a regular visitor to the street and often found items he needed to buy. He said: "Just the other week I needed buttons and I found them in a shop here."