People are outraged that the Mitcham Status Fair is charging admission for the first time in its 200-plus year history.

Before this year, you could potentially walk in and out of the fair without spending a penny. Admission was free but you would be charged for each ride you went on.

But now people are being asked to pay anywhere from £5 to £9.99 to enter, but will not be charged to go on any rides.

This shocked and angered Bonnie McIntosh who thinks people are being left unable to enjoy the fair once inside.

"I’ve been coming to the Mitcham Fair for many years and looked forward to coming this year, but was shocked to find there was no free entry any more," she said.

"After paying to get in, I was then saddened to see how few attractions there were compared with previous years, and not even an arcade.

"How are families meant to afford this? It used to be a fun, affordable day out, but not anymore.”

But the fair's organiser, Jerry Cooper, couldn't understand the criticism and said people would be saving money this way.

"If you come to a fair and don't want to go on any rides, why are you coming," he said.

"We’ve always been here and charged per ride and unfortunately we’ve been losing more and more customers because of that.

"We're surrounded by events that do the same thing and we've just had to adapt."

Mr Cooper understood that a few people who don't go on any rides could be annoyed by the change, but said it was an obvious step to maintain the survival of the fair.

"You can't have some people paying and some not," he said.

"We've bent over backwards to appease the people, not anger them.

"Before, people could find themselves spending £50 on rides alone, now it's cheaper and people still find fault.

"We've had a lot of repeat customers this year, which doesn't usually happen, and I believe it is all down to the change."