AS Oxfordshire’s biggest, and smartest, festival, Cornbury is used to seeing some famous names. But yesterday, it surpassed even its own reputation as a playground for the chic and well-heeled by welcoming its first Prime Minister.

David Cameron took time out from running the country by spending some family time among the fairground rides at the music festival, which attracted more than 12,000 people each day to its site near Charlbury, over the weekend.

Mr Cameron, whose constituency home is in nearby Dean, has been a regular visitor to the event, hosted by Lord and Lady Rotherwick, but this was his first festival since becoming premier.

He said he had enjoyed his time at the festival – which was headlined by singer-songwriters David Gray and Jackson Browne, folk star Seth Lakeman and rockabilly idol Imelda May.

“It’s very nice,” he said. “I was hoping to see the Blockheads, but they’re on a bit later, and I have to rush off.

“I would also have loved to see Jackson Browne because I was a big fan.”

He was also looking forward to sampling some of the food on offer – which ranged from a pig roast served by volunteers from Charlbury pre-school to Jamaican curried goat, and handmade pasta prepared by Jamie Oliver’s team of chefs.

“I haven’t decided yet what to have,” said Mr Cameron, “but I’ll have a good look and get something to take home.”

Mr Cameron was among a number of celebrities on the site over the weekend – including Jeremy Clarkson, Gillian McKeith, comedian Dom Joly and Loyd Grossman, who performed a set with his band New Forbidden.

Festival director Hugh Phillimore Phillimore hailed the seventh Cornbury a huge success. He said: “I’ve been really thrilled with the line-up and the site has looked lovely. We’ve had a new kids’ area, which has also been fantastic. Even the weather has been good to us, which is a nice change.

“We’ve had a good crowd so I am feeling very positive. We might not make a profit, again, but we are getting very close. Maybe in year eight!”

Among the music-lovers enjoying yesterday’s sun was Pete Elliston, of Monmouth Road, Oxford. He said: “It has been brilliant. It’s such a friendly festival and I’ll definitely be coming again. The whole thing is nice and relaxed.”

Jessica Doidge, from North Newington, near Banbury, was there with her daughter Ellie, three.

She said: “It’s the first time I’ve been but we’ve had a good time. It’s great for children. It’s also the poshest festival I’ve been to. Where else would you see Bentleys in the car park?”

Stella White, from Grimsbury, Banbury, said: “It’s brilliant! It’s the first festival I’ve been to, and it is wonderful. It’s all so relaxed and it's fabulous for families.”

tim.hughes@oxfordmail.co.uk