Residents of Bampton had a special guest during their traditional village weekend when Prince Charles attended a church concert.

The Prince was there on Saturday evening (May 28) to help raise money for church repairs. While he attended a performance of chamber music, villagers outside were busy taking part in the riotous annual Shirt Race.

Mairi Bruschi, 39, who grew up in Bampton and had returned for the traditional weekend of racing, drinking and Morris dancing, was waiting in the lane when Prince Charles arrived.

She was surprised to see him drive himself, and added: "He was really lovely. He gave us a wave and spoke to us. You don't expect that. There was such a relaxed feeling there. You wouldn't have that in London."

Tessa Lawton said: "He asked us about the shirt race. It was very exciting. We left the race because it was too good an opportunity to miss him."

Her two children spoke to the Prince and she said: "They have been incredibly excited all week about him coming, but they thought he was going to be wearing a crown."

The Prince was in the west Oxfordshire village as patron of the charity 'Music in Country Churches', and it is hoped the concert will raise several thousand pounds towards repairs to the church's roof and ancient bells.

Those who had taken the opportunity to do some Royal-watching were quick to get back to the races once the Prince, there without the Duchess of Cornwall, had taken his seat inside.

The annual Shirt Race, running for the 54th time, is organised to raise money for the elderly of the village.

Competitors race around the village in pairs, using wheeled vehicles to help them, from hospital beds to pushchairs.

Spectators, lining the streets and watching from the village's many pubs, have free reign to throw water bombs and fire water pistols as the runners speed past.

Alex Rawle, eight, and his brother Josh, six, were dressed as Andy Pandy and Teddy.

They were both pleased but puffed out after racing around the course in a wicker basket.

Alex said: "I don't know where we came but we didn't come last. It was hard work.

"When we started, I got a balloon in my face, but I just ducked."

Watching them was Olive McCabe, 61, from the United States, visiting her mother after she married a serviceman from RAF Brize Norton more than 40 years ago.

She said: "I like to come now because there is so much in the village, it is really fun.

"This is the one weekend that most people come back, and you see old friends that you wouldn't normally see."