A birthday party with a difference transformed Oxford's Osney Island on Saturday as more than 600 people celebrated the area's 150th birthday.

Street organ music filled Bridge Street, which was decked out in flags and lined with stalls set up by residents.

The event was masterminded by the Osney Island Residents' Association to mark 150 years since solicitor George Hester, a former Town Clerk of Oxford, bought the island, laid out the streets and plots, and sold Osney Town for development.

Stalls on Osney Island

Organiser Chris Willis, of Swan Street, said: "One of the things that Osney Island has is a very strong sense of community and it was lovely that a lot of former residents came back for the celebrations to see old friends and take a look at the history displays.

"At the end of the day, we had a giant birthday cake that was cut up by a couple of Osney Island's oldest residents."

The celebrations also featured the Osney Mile race, in which runners had to complete two and a half laps of the island. The winner was John Cox, of West Street, Osney.

For the less energetic, there was a hog roast, the Oxford Mail bouncy castle, face painting and home-made produce for sale. People were also invited to buy a small wooden boat and take part in a Pooh Sticks-style race.

There was also a fact-finding trail around Osney's streets for people to learn more about its history.

Rema Goolden, of West Street, Osney, summed it up for many: "I have lived on Osney Island for 17 years and it is a fabulous place to live."