THOUSANDS of people across Oxfordshire celebrated Easter with traditional food and prayers.

The Rt Rev John Pritchard, the Bishop of Oxford, met dozens of shoppers yesterday as he handed out Easter eggs in Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

His Dorchester counterpart, the Rt Rev Colin Fletcher, gave away hot cross buns in Sheep Street, Bicester, on Maundy Thursday. Bishop John said: “Hot cross buns and Easter eggs are right at the heart of our Easter celebrations.

“They are also a wonderful reminder of the Easter story.

“Giving this small gift to shoppers is a simple way of celebrating our Christian heritage and sharing our faith.”

Worshippers carried a large wooden cross through Kidlington on Good Friday for a Walk of Witness, while at St Mary’s Church in Iffley, Oxford, a giant Easter egg was placed in the font.

At St Andrew’s Church in Linton Road, Summertown, Oxford, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was marked on Saturday with a performance of Handel’s Messiah.

Hundreds of people decorated and rolled hard-boiled eggs at Shotover Country Park, in Oxford, on Good Friday, following a tradition going back nearly 20 years.

Abingdon author Paul Gustafson, who wrote the Eggbert series of children’s books, dropped in to Cotswold Wildlife Park on Good Friday to join in its Easter celebrations – with even the park’s meerkats given decorated eggs.

Easter egg hunts took place today at Bicester Garrison, and at Oxford Castle.