ESTATE residents are being urged to come and meet their neighbours at the Barton Bash this weekend.

The estate’s annual fun day on Saturday will see the Barton Neighbourhood Centre filled with free activities.

Sue Holden, secretary of the Barton Community Association, said: “It is our annual community event and open to absolutely everybody so we encourage families to come and spend some time together having fun.

“Everything will be free except refreshments. Leave your purse at home because you won’t necessarily need it.”

There will be displays from the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes, Barton Singers, Barton Karate, and Messy Jams street dance. There will also be zumba and salsa demonstrations.

Activities include face painting, a bouncy castle, glitter and henna tattoos, hair braiding, and balloon modelling.

Oxford United coaches will also be running football fitness sessions and there will be table tennis and street sports.

Mrs Holden said the estate always turned out for the event: “It is now firmly in the community calendar. It’s something that has kept up the area’s interest over the years.

“When the chips are down that’s what people want for their community.

“Although there are lots of other things going on in Barton throughout the year, this is the one event that includes everybody. There is something for everybody. It rekindles friendships and neighbours talk to one another.”

Activities will be announced by Oxford town crier Anthony Church, and there will be a hog roast, apple pressing and candy floss.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith will open the event at 12.15pm. He urged residents to come along: “It’s a brilliant event and I am very much looking forward to opening it.

“It’s a showcase for the Barton community and its wonderful spirit.”

The ninth annual Barton Bash, which runs from 12pm to 4.30pm, has been funded by organisations including Oxford City Council, South Oxfordshire Housing Association and GreenSquare.