FAMILIES, friends and teddies have celebrated 10 years since Garth Park’s popular Teddy Bears’ Picnic was first launched.

Bicester Town Council has been organising the free event every year since 2005 and organisers pulled out all the stops on Wednesday to make the milestone anniversary extra special.

Mum Jill Williamson goes to the picnic every year with her husband John and three-year-old son Gabriel.

The chiropractor from Ambrosden said: “Everyone looked like they were having a good time. It was very busy. It has definitely expanded since last year. It was taking up the whole park while last year it just took up a portion.

“Gabriel particularly liked the face painting. It was do-your-own and he wanted to be Spiderman so I had a go. There was a man blowing really big bubbles too and he enjoyed that.”

Mrs Williamson, 34, who owns Williamson Chiropractic and Sports Injuries clinic in Bicester with her husband, praised the town council for offering so many “wonderful” activities for the picnic, many of which were free. The pair closed the clinic from 11am to 3pm so they could enjoy the event as a family.

Mrs Williamson added: “There was cheerleading, go-karts, abseiling. There was a little steam engine which Gabriel loved.”

There was also a Best Dressed Teddy competition, judged by mayor Jim French.