RAIN did not stop the fun as Banbury’s second old town party proved a success with shoppers and traders.

Parsons Street, Church Lane and Market Place were alive with music, dance, and even a bicycle piano as shops and businesses enjoyed some fun.

Last year traders in Parsons Street, Church Walk, Church Lane and White Lion Walk hosted a party to celebrate the completion of a £1.5m pedestrianisation scheme.

It was such a success they decided to do it again.

There are more than 126 shops in Banbury’s old town area and many of them enticed people in with samples of food and drink.

Street entertainment was also laid on including Rimski Bicycle Piano, Sue Greenway and her Dixie Strollers and Martin Green on classical guitar. There were also dance displays, balloon modelling and face-painting.

Neil Wild, a chartered surveyor who volunteered as a steward for the event, and took along son Noah, eight, said: “The idea of the day was to encourage people into the old town and visit some of the independent retailers.”