A church plans to affirm its place in modern society by holding a free family fun day, and everyone - whet- her religious or not - is welcome to attend.

St Aldate's Church, in St Aldate's, Oxford, hopes the event this Bank Holiday Monday will show people the church can be fun and relevant.

Rachel Smith, fun day organiser and children's pastor, said she hoped this year's event would be as popular as previous years - which have seen as many as 500 people turning up.

She said: "There is going to be lots of different things happening on the day, with bouncy castles, face-painting, a giant Scalextric and lots of different craft activities.

"The event is all part of Hope08, which churches across the country are involved in and is about trying to get involved with communities more.

"Everything on the day will be completely free, even the food and drink, and we really hope that lots of people come down and have some fun.

"Even the rain won't put us off as everything is indoors."

This is the fourth year the church has held the fun day.

Mrs Smith said she felt the church had a lot to offer the community, giving people a moral compass to help them through their lives.

She said: "This kind of event is to show that churches aren't perhaps the old fashioned places that a lot of people might think of them as being, and that they can be bright, fun and welcoming.

"I think there is a negative view of religion as something that just offers a list of do's and don'ts. But religion can help us live our lives better. If people come and see what it is like in the church for themselves on Monday I think they will see that we have a lot to offer."

She said the church was also holding a children's party and fun day on Saturday, May 17.

She added: "If they don't want to get involved in religion then they are still welcome and it will still be a very fun day."

This Monday the fun starts at 1pm and runs through to 4pm.