THOUSANDS flocked to Blenheim Palace over the Bank Holiday weekend as the historic house played host to a medieval jousting tournament.

More than 4,000 people visited the palace on both Saturday and yesterday, attracted by a costumed jousting competition, arranged to celebrate the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne.

Visitor numbers were up by 2,000 on the same weekend last year, with crowds flocking to enjoy the fine weather and make use of the palace’s new unlimited annual pass scheme.

Since the launch of the ‘buy one day, get a year free’ scheme backed by the Oxford Mail, the palace has issued more than 30,000 passes.

Chief executive John Hoy said: “The crowds that came here were treated to an excellent falconry display and an entertaining jousting show.

“The atmosphere was fantastic – with dozens of young maidens and knights wandering around.

“Blenheim really comes to life when there are children here.

“And the passes are proving to be phenomenonally popular. The thousands of people who have subscribed have made a connection with Blenheim and hopefully they will revisit throughout the year.

“We think it’s extremely good value and we’re delighted to offer it to people when times are harder with the recession.”

Five-year-old Isaac Harrington dressed up as a little knight for the day and cheered on the riders in the jousting competitions.

The Harrington family have used their pass five times since they bought it earlier this year.

Mum Tanya 38, said: “Isaac loved the event. He really got into the jousting and was cheering them on quite loudly.”

The palace also hosted some political jousting yesterday, as Oxfordshire County Councillors debated local issues on BBC’s Politics Show ahead of the council elections on June 4.