OXFORDSHIRE celebrated St George’s Day with an array of quintessentially English traditions.

Morris men from Wantage danced on the Oxfordshire spot where, legend has it, St George slew the dragon.

The Icknield Way Morris Men danced for the first time ever at Dragon Hill, beneath White Horse Hill, near Uffington, to mark the occasion on Saturday.

The side’s bagman, Ray Springthorpe, said: “It’s the best way to celebrate St George. Morris dancing is about as British as you can get. We always celebrate St George’s Day, but because it coincided this year with the bank holiday weekend we thought we would do something a bit special.”

In Wallingford, a town crying competition and Punch and Judy show were staged in the town centre.

Martin Lock, 38, of Fraser Gardens, took part in the competition with daughter, Emily, eight.

He said: “It was a wonderful day in Wallingford, as always. Emily was a bit nervous to start with but her dad set a good example and she really got into it.”

Electoral reform campaigners also got in on the act ahead of next week’s referedum on the issue.

The Oxfordshire branch of Yes to Fairer Votes slayed the “dragon of first past the post” in a piece of political theatre in Witney.

Spokesman Andrew Mell said: “The story of St George slaying the dragon is one of changing traditions for the better.”