Morris sides from across Oxfordshire performed in front of crowds in Wantage this weekend as part of an annual folk festival.

The performers, who were dressed in clogs and bedecked with ribbons and beads, wowed spectators with traditional dance in Market Place on Saturday (August 19).

They included Oxfordshire-based sides Cry Havoc, Ridgeway Step Clog, Summertown Morris, Icknield Way Morris Men, Old Speckled Hen.

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The Morris dancing featured as part of the White Horse Folk Festival, which returned from Friday (August 18) to Sunday.

Co-organiser Jeff Gillett said: “Morris dancing is something very visual and visible and it’s carrying on a tradition, so it has a historical place.”

The rest of the festival saw workshops, mini-concerts and special presentations take place on Grove Recreation Ground where marquees had been set up.

Mr Gillett and his wife Elaine hail from Stroud, Gloucestershire – almost 50 miles away – but have organised the festival for the last six years.

They offered to take over organising duties when the festival, which has been running for around 35 years, looked in danger of fizzling out.

“They had been closing the festival for that year, but we thought it was too good to let go,” said Mr Gillett.

“It’s just such a friendly event and great things happen there so we wanted it to continue.

“A lot of it consists of handmade entertainment. We have quite a few sing-alongs and music sessions where anybody can take part.”