THE Oxford International Women’s Festival was launched in a party atmosphere on Sunday night.

Dozens of women — and a handful of men — packed out the Jam Factory in Hollybush Row to mark the start of the festival, the 21st in the city and the biggest annual women’s festival in the UK.

This year’s theme is “grass roots and glass ceilings”.

Juggling, music and performance art were all on offer, along with a chance to check out an exhibition and art show on the festival theme.

Anne Mobbs, one of the founders of the event, pictured back with, from left, Mazz Image, Helen Melone and Sandy Thin Mar Oo, said: “The festival is celebrating women at the grass roots level – like the women in Rose HIll who are really the nuts and bolts of the community, the teachers, the carers, the women who keep everything going.

“We are also looking at the obstacles that stop women achieving at the highest level of society – all the different events reflect that.”