THE recent cold weather has forced the postponement of the annual Fritillary Sunday in West Oxfordshire.

The event was due to take place on April 14, but has been put back until May.

Every April since the mid-1980s, the village of Ducklington has welcomed up to 2,000 people from across the country.

The fritillary meadow near St Bartholomew’s Church is normally covered in the purple and white flowers at this time of year.

But they have not yet emerged due to the cold snap.

The event will now take place on Sunday, May 5, between 11.30am and 5pm in and around the village's St Bartholomew’s Church.

Visitors will be able to enjoy cream teas, ploughman’s lunches, traditional Ducklington morris dancing and handbell ringing.

Ducklington is the only place in the area where visitors can walk among the flowers in the meadow. It is open to visitors for only one day each year.

The Rev Bob Edy, vicar of St Bartholomew’s Church, said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors on what we hope will be a sunny May Bank Holiday weekend.”