Actor Sir Ben Kingsley is to open tomorrow's Charlbury Street Fair in a last-minute replacement.

Organisers of the town's annual carnival had booked ex-rocker Alex James of Blur, who lives at Kingham, to kick the event off at 2pm. But it now appears he has a prior booking elsewhere.

Sir Ben, who lives at nearby Spelsbury with his fourth wife Brazilian actress Daniela Barbosa, will be judging the children's fancy dress competition and launching and afternoon and evening of music, games and fun.

The street fair this year takes its theme from the title of an epic Italian spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which will be shown this evening at 7.30pm, at the Memorial Hall.

Tomorrow, the fair involves involves everything from egg throwing to morris dancing, a classic car display, entertainers and a wide range of stalls.

The parade in the evening picks up on the good, bad and ugly theme, while on Sunday the 10k and fun runs through Cornbury Park start at 10.30am at Playing Close.

Funds raised go to the upkeep of the Memorial Hall and Corner House.