A DROUGHT killed off any chance of completing the tradition of putting a model dragon on a pond near Didcot last year.

But plenty of rain since has meant the fiery beast is once again afloat in West Hagbourne.

Since 2009, residents have had a dragon on the pond as part of their St George’s Day celebrations.

Villagers make them from various materials and leave them in different locations. Then at the end of the week the village association judges the contest and hands out a prize for the best one.

Following a rainless start to 2012 and a hosepipe ban, the village pond next to Manor Farm dried up completely, and although villagers did stage their annual contest, they had nowhere to float a dragon.

But heavy rainfall after St George’s Day 21012 meant the pond was full again by June.

Parish councillor Valerie Brownsword, of Manor Close, said: “I’m delighted to say there is a purple dragon floating on the village pond. It’s great to see it back after the drought dried up the pond last year.

“There are dragons now popping up all over the village – we have got one on a zipwire in our house and there’s a green spotty one in the phonebox.”

Mrs Brownsword, 65, is a former computer programmer at Harwell and lives with husband Malcolm and daughter Helen.

She said: “Villagers started this tradition to make a point about the village being swamped by 3,300 homes being built at Great Western Park.

“We want to keep some land between us and Didcot and maintain the rural identity of the village.”

Parish council clerk Lucy Dalby added: “This has become a great village tradition and I’m glad the pond is full again this year – that shows how wet it has been.

“I’m going to take my two daughters Abigail and Zoe along to see the dragons.”

This year’s contest has been organised by Val Walton, chairman of the West Hagbourne village association.

Former chairman Betty Kendrick said: “We are fortunate the pond is so full and the dragon looks absolutely magnificent.”