A SPECTACULAR Spitfire fly-past was the star of the show at this year's Launton Fete.

The historic aircraft roared over the hundreds of people enjoying the annual event in the village near Bicester on Saturday.

Sunny weather proved the perfect backdrop for the day's activities and meant that the fly-past from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Spitfire was able to pass over the event three times.

The distinctive sound of the Merlin engine echoed across the stalls lining Launton Playing Fields.

The flight was organised by Launton resident Wendy Foster who said it was an 'amazing roar' that rang through the skies as the aircraft passed, the pilot having already taken part in the Queen's birthday flypast that morning.

She added: "I had to put in the application form in September 2017, and heard that we were successful in March this year.

"I then had to apply for airspace, and Bicester Gliding Club downed their gliders especially for us. I als had to make sure that BBMF had the right grid reference coordinates for the fete."

This year's event was themed around the poppy, marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

There was a parade from the parish hall to the fete to start proceedings and led by miniature pony Cupp and owner Stacey O'Neill, plus Launton Youth Football Clubs and Launton School Cheerleaders.

The parade ended with the a tractor from the Bicester Vintage Tractor Club and among the parade troupe was also Major Billy Dilkes, Deputy Commander at Bicester Garrison, who went on to officially open the fete.

Organising group coordinator Robert Cornford said: "The fete was a great success, thanks to the good weather and the big crowds who came to support us.

"We’ve not finalised the finances but it looks as though we will have raised more than £3,100 to be shared between Launton’s St Mary’s Church and the Launton Youth Football Clubs.

"The activity that raised most money was the raffle with nearly £1,200 taken, followed by the Poppy Tea Room with more than £500 but all stalls contributed to the successful fundraising.

"This amount compares with 1968, when The Bicester Advertiser reported that the fete raised £200 – or about £2,500 in today’s money."

Also on Saturday, this year's Launton Lollop was held in the village as a 10K run and 5K walk or run raising money for The Friends of Island Pond Wood.