A funfair tradition will be no more at this year's Bridgwater Fair after the organisers opted to ban goldfish as prizes.
The move comes after Joshua Coles, 27, of Tiverton, Devon, was filmed swallowing a goldfish which had been won at Bridgwater Fair in September 2018.
In the 14 second clip, Coles can be seen with the live fish in his hand before swallowing it with a drink and holding his mouth open to the camera.
The video was posted onto Snapchat where it was widely shared on social media.
It was later reported to the RSPCA by those concerned about what they had seen.
Coles was sentenced at Exeter Crown Court and was ordered to pay £300 with £85 victim surcharge.
He was also banned from keeping fish for five years.
The Showmen's Guild, the organisers behind Bridgwater Fair, confirmed goldfish will no longer be offered as prizes at future fairs in Bridgwater following the incident.
It is not known if a similar ban will be offered at other funfairs.
A spokesman for the organisation's western section committee said: "Due to the incident reported by the RSPCA last year, bad press and emotive issues this is causing, the western section committee of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain agreed to suspend the giving of live animals as prizes at Bridgwater Fair 2019.
"The western section cannot comment on other fairs across the country."
A spokeswoman for Sedgemoor District Council said the authority received multiple calls to ban live animals as prizes at the annual four-day event.
She said: "After the RSPCA recently prosecuted a person for swallowing a live goldfish, which was won as a prize at Bridgwater Fair last September, the council was inundated with requests from animal charities, journalists and individuals, asking the council to ban the practice of giving live animals as prizes in this day and age.
"We responded to those concerned, saying that SDC do not own or run the fair, so it is not within our remit to ban the practice or not.
"We wrote to the Showman's Guild who run the fair and they have replied, saying they would suspend the practice of giving goldfish at this year's fair.
"Our staff were unaware of the incident as it was not mentioned in the police or security debrief at the time."
Goldfish won at fairgrounds "suffer miserably" - RSPCA
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA welcomed the ban at Bridgwater Fair and said goldfish often offered as prizes "suffer miserably" and are "easily stressed".
She told Somerset Live: "We're pleased to hear fish will not be available as prizes at this year's Bridgwater Fair, and hope this will be a permanent change that will see animals no longer given as prizes at the town's popular fair in future years too.
"The RSPCA is opposed to the giving of live animals as prizes and would say to people who sees this at other events - don't be tempted.
"Animal ownership is a big responsibility that needs to be planned and well thought out - not a spur of the moment thing that happens just because someone has won a prize.
"Games offering animals as prizes don't take this into consideration.
"Very often the 'prize' animals suffer miserably, as the busy fairground, show or even country fete is just too much for them.
"Goldfish are often offered as prizes, but are easily stressed.
"They may suffer from shock, oxygen starvation or even die from changes in water temperature.
"Many fairground fish die before their new owners can get them home - or soon afterwards.
"Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, it is an offence to enter into an arrangement with a person reasonably believed to be under 16, who is not accompanied by an adult, whereby an animal is to be won as a prize.
"We'd encourage anyone with concerns to help to stop this by contacting your local authority or the event organiser and ask them to adopt a policy of not allowing animals to be given as prizes at any fundraising activities held in their buildings or on their land."
What is Bridgwater Fair?
Dating back to 1249, the four-day Bridgwater Fair attracts more than 40,000 visitors each year with many tourists flocking to its quaint market stalls and fun rides.
The annual event is the South West's largest travelling funfair and its markets are full of items like food, gifts, clothing, home decoration, plants and pottery.
This year's event will kick off on Wednesday, September 25 and finish on Saturday, September 28.
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