THOUSANDS of people descended on Thame for the town’s annual country fair.

It is the 16th year Thame Country Show has taken place at the showground off Kingsey Road.

Marge Needham, the company secretary at organisers Living Heritage, yesterday said she hoped 15,000 people would come through the gates yesterday and today.

And she said visitors had not been put off by the prospect of wind and rain.

“People know what to expect, they come wrapped up with waterproofs,” Mrs Needham said.

“We are expecting a nice, healthy, happy crowd this weekend.”

New events on offer this year include a horse stunt show and jousting.

Mrs Needham said: “You never know what animals are going to do so that changes every time.”

The event also includes displays featuring ponies, sheepdogs and birds of prey, craft stalls, and fishing and shooting demonstrations.

Former Cherwell School pupil Louise Davis, who now lives in Daventry, said: “My family has been saying every year that we should go, and now we have the children we thought what else could we do for the Easter weekend?”

Daniel Carter, 26, and Melissa Pankhurst, 21, brought their 15-week-old border collie puppy Betsy to the show.

Mr Carter, from Winslow, said: “It is the third time we have been here. It is lovely place to be. It is a nice day out for the families and the dogs, too.”

And he said he had not been deterred by the weather, adding: “It is only a bit of rain.”

Father-of-two Simon Devaney, 40, from Nottinghamshire, said: “We spotted there was going to be jousting with knights so we have come halfway across the country.”