December may have only just begun but the fun of Christmas was already evident in many parts of Oxfordshire this weekend.

Shoppers enjoyed a fun day of festive elebrations yesterday in Headington, Oxford.

Fun fair rides, a radio road show and street entertainers came to the area around London Road, Windmill Road and Old High Street.

The Christmas lights were turned on by the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Hugh Brunne,r at 3.30pm and an open air carol service was conducted by the Rev Canon David Owen, chairman of the Headington branch of Churches Together.

Jill Cummings, of the Headington Local Business Association, said: "Events like this give people a sense of community. Headington is a dying area when it comes to small independent shops so we have got to raise awareness about what Headington has to offer."

In Bicester, members of the Round Table began their annual seasonal charity collection with their float in Sheep Street on Saturday.

The float will now tour housing estates in the town on weekday evenings and will also be at Blooms garden centre, Oxford Road, Bicester, on December 16.

Elsewhere, more than 50 children from Sunday School groups at Harwell and Chilton spent Sunday working with Christmas crafts.

The youngsters worked with candles, clay and flowers flowers to make decorations at St Matthew's, Harwell.

Oxford MP and cabinet minister Andrew Smith also joined in the fun by donning a Father Christmas costume and handing out prizes at a Labour Party bazaar at Oxford Town Hall on Saturday.

Mr Smith said: "It's a pleasant change to give away prizes to Labour supporters and open our Christmas bazaar."