A SUMMER fayre is hoping to bring the whole of Didcot together for a day of fun.

The first ever event of its kind in Edmonds Park on Saturday is set to be one of the highlights of the summer with nine hours of entertainment planned.

In the family-focussed part of the day, running from noon until 5pm, children will be able to have a go at bubble football, go-karts and ‘soccer darts’ where a ball is kicked at a huge inflatable darts board to score points.

Live entertainment includes performances from the Angels Stage School and Vocalize Choir, as well as martial arts groups and dance schools.

Afterwards live bands will take to the stage to entertain punters with a range of music from acoustic sing-alongs to punk.

It ends with headline act the Barnstormers, known for their crowd-friendly cover songs, who play from 8pm until 9pm.

The overall theme for the event is ‘sustainability’ and it has been co-organised by environmental group Sustainable Didcot and fundraisers Play2Give.

Mayor of Didcot Bill Service said: “Our community is what makes Didcot such a great place.

“As mayor I am looking forward to bringing together the different parts of our town to showcase and celebrate the fantastic things that go on here each and every day.”

One of the highlights of the event is set to be a ‘train parade’ in which pupils from surrounding schools show-off the carriages they have decorated using recycled materials.

Didcot-area schools including Aureus, Willowcroft, Northbourne, Manor and Hagbourne have all taken part with the engine and carriages touring the south of the county in order to get spruced up.

Event organiser Amanda Mann said: “The day is a chance for the whole town to come together to enjoy a vast array of activities.

“We hope everyone comes out in support.

“With the entertainment, stalls and bands we have lined up across the nine hours, we are sure people will have an amazing time.”

A charity raffle will be held in aid of Play2Give, which raise money for good causes including the Oxford Children’s Hospital and Headway Oxfordshire.

The event will be free with donations gladly accepted.

Play2Give founder and CEO Andy Baker said: “We are delighted to have organised the event for the first time in partnership with Sustainable Didcot.

“After months of hard work it is so exciting it’s almost here.

“We hope our local community will come together to support us and make the summer fayre a success, so it can go on to become even bigger over the years to come.

“We want to thank all the sponsors and the town council for their support.”

Funding for the fayre has come from Didcot Town Council with sponsors including Milton Park and Go Green Taxis.

Organisers are still looking for volunteers to help on the day. Duties include stewarding the car parks, toilet marshalling, litter picking and helping set up stalls.

See didcotsummerfayre.co.uk/volunteers/ for more.