A RAUCOUS crowd of locals, dance troupes from across Oxfordshire and visitors from all over the UK spent the weekend horsing around in Banbury town centre.

The Banbury Folk & Hobby Horse Festival made a triumphant return to the streets after the merge first took place last year.

A grand procession of hobby horses and beasts, Morris sides and belly dancers lead by the Steamchicken Jazz Band brought the wow factor to the town on Saturday.

Hundreds also attended gigs featuring big names from across the globe, including singer-songwriter Gerry Colvin - a favourite at Fairport's Cropredy Convention - and folk legend Clive Gregson, visiting specially from the USA, in clubs, bars and open mic sessions all over Banbury.

Co-organiser Mary Droscher said: "The procession was bigger than anything we had planned before and went really well.

"We have a 'stable' full of hobby horses in Banbury but we had a lot visiting as well this time. There is room for it to develop more but we are very happy."

The Hobby Horse Festival always used to occur in the first week of July to coincide with the Town Mayor's Sunday but became part of the Folk Festival last year.

It received some funding this year from Banbury Town Council to sponsor the jazz band and accommodate visiting hobby horses.

Town mayor Gordon Ross said: "There were lots of folk groups and various events at the town hall and the Methodist church.

"Merging is really good because it attracts lots of people in from all over England."