THE best of Blackbird Leys was on display as 2,000 people enjoyed a day of music, dance and fairground rides.

Talented youngsters from across the Leys twirled batons and body-popped as they wowed the crowds in performances by the Strawberry Fayre Majorettes and KC’s School of Dance at the Leys Fair.

Children aged from six to 60 licked ice-creams in the sun and tried their hand at Zumba dancing during Saturday’s five-hour event.

Clubs and community groups, including Greater Leys Youth FC and the Leys Community Church, organised face-painting and a manned four bouncy castles and obstacle courses for children.

Rita Perry brought her five grandchildren – Ellie Journeaux, seven, Thomas Molloy, 10, Amber Potter, nine, Rosie Molloy, two, and Abby Potter, 14 – to the event outside the Blackbird Leys Centre.

Mrs Perry, from Barns Road, Cowley, said: “It’s a lovely afternoon and great for the children.

“It’s really nice to see them all having fun.

“We’ve been really lucky with the weather and it’s somewhere good to bring the kids for some fresh air while I’m on babysitting duty.”

Ellie, a pupil at Church Cowley St James School, said: “It’s been brilliant.

“The slide was the best bit.

“It’s really fun when you go down and you can get going really, really fast and then dive off the end.”

Sam Lewis took her four-year-old son Tyler along for the afternoon, where he enjoyed the fairground rides.

The 24-year-old, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, said: “We came last year and had a really nice afternoon so we decided to come along again and we’re having fun.

“I was born and grew up on the estate so I remember coming as a child too.

“It’s nice to come back now with my own son.”

Philip Denmark, of Falkland Close, watched his three daughters Emily-Rose, eight, Natasha, six and Lacy-Mae, three perform in the Strawberry Fayre majorettes Mr Denmark said: “It always seems to be better each year, there’s always something new.”

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith said: “It’s always a great event and it’s a showcase for a lot of the groups and organisations we have on the Leys. However the main aim of the event is for people to come together and have a good time.”

Among the other attractions was a performance by The Leys Gospel Choir, a Punch and Judy show, Laser Quest, an inflatable bungee rope and a circus skills workshop.

Co-ordinator Natalie Huckin said: “It was a packed line-up of events.

“This is the best of the Leys on display with lots of positive things for people to enjoy and youngsters enjoying themselves.”