People march to mark St George's Day

Although officially not until Wednesday, St George's Day was celebrated in the county in style - in a variety of colourful events.

Yesterday, hundreds of Oxford's Scouts marched through the city.

Eighteen groups from the Oxford Spires Scout District assembled in Broad Street before marching along Turl Street and the High Street to accompaniment of a band in a 300-strong procession watched by a large crowd.

After a service in the Town Hall, the parade set off from Blue Boar Street to Oxford Castle, where scouts raised the flag of St George.

Jan Watkins' 14-year-old son, aptly named George, was at the head of the group with the 28th Oxford Scouts from Littlemore, holding aloft the Oxford Spires flag.

She said: "I think it is a great day and it gives all the scouts a chance to get together and see their friends from other groups, or people they met through the Gang Show.

"It teaches them about duty and respect, which I think is really important."

Andy Job, assistant scout leader with 4th Oxford Scouts, based in Botley and Cumnor, said: "I think it is important to celebrate St George and this one of the only events which does so in the city."

Val Butcher, Oxford Spires district commissioner, said: "St George is the patron saint of England, but he is also the patron saint of scouting, which is why we do this every year."

In Abingdon, some 50 vintage cars paid homage to what is known as the spiritual home of the MG.

The cars, of all different shapes and sizes, gathered outside Miele, the site of the MG factory until the 1980s, for the start of the MG Car Club's annual St George's Day Abingdon Rally.

John Watson, of the Abingdon Works Centre MG Car Club said: "It's just a good gathering of people with the same interests. The weather is now getting better and people want to get their cars out and use them."

In Bicester, Scouts, Cubs, Beavers, Guides and Brownies joined forces to march to St Edburg's Church from Sheep Street, before they were saluted by town mayor John Cozens in Market Square.

On Saturday, more than 600 people braved cold winds and rain to attend a patriotic celebration at Wheatley.

The event, which included bouncy castles, tug 'o' war, a re-enactment of St George battling the dragon, craft workshops and a barbecue, was organised free-of-charge by local churches.

Co-ordinator Gordon Ewbank said: "It is in conjunction with an organisation called Fusion Youth and Community, a UK charity that brings Christian churches together and reaches out to the wider community.

"This is a brilliant way of doing it. We invite people to a fun afternoon - no strings attached."

On Wednesday, many are expected to gather at Dragon Hill in Uffington, where the George and Dragon legend supposedly originated.

Residents tell of a bare patch of chalk where grass never grows - supposedly because the slain dragon's blood was spilled there.