THOUSANDS of people visited an Oxfordshire village to see dozens of local bands play across four venues.

The annual Bloxham May Festival, now in its fourth year, saw about 3,000 people descend on the north Oxfordshire village on Saturday.

Despite wet weather, families watched about 40 bands, took part in circus skills workshops and watched arts and crafts demonstrations.

Bloxham resident Louise Phillips, 40, said: “It was brilliant. We got thoroughly soaked but we kept going.

“The festival is a great chance for the whole village to come together in one place.”

Her daughter, Heidi, seven, said: “It was fun. I really enjoyed the plate spinning.”

Bloxham resident Nickie Johnstone, 39, said: “Every year the festival is hampered by the weather, but it didn’t dampen the spirits.

“It is a community event and it does bring the community together, which is great.”

Organiser Sian Phillips said: “It was brilliant.

“We had intermittent showers but the bands played superbly and lots of people had lots of fun.”