JAZZ musicians and showjumpers wowed the crowds as two of Oxfordshire’s most popular summer shows got under way.

Bicester Jazz Festival and the Bicester and Finmere Show enjoyed another successful year, with sunshine helping to draw in visitors to both events.

An annual weekend which sees musicians take to the streets, the jazz festival is organised by Bicester Village and Bicester Town Council.

Miranda Markham, of Bicester Village, said: “It went very well, we were fortunate with the weather.

“We had several bands playing and as usual there was a great feel to it – there was a particularly nice atmosphere and a lot of the foreign language students also enjoyed it.”

Popular jazz singer Esther Miller took to the stage to dazzle the audience with a string of Latin American and Ella Fitzgerald numbers.

And making his debut on the Bicester Jazz weekend bill was 19-year-old self-taught jazz keyboard player Sam Plummer.

The former Cooper School student from Bicester said: “I’ve never played a jazz festival before and being chosen to perform in front of such a special crowd was a real privilege.

“I see this as a fantastic platform to begin a career in something I’m really passionate about.”

Meanwhile Bicester’s country show, inspired by Sally Haynes MBE who was paralysed in a riding accident at the age of 17, continued into its 52nd year.

A dozen celebrity steeple chase jockeys lined up to try to jump the highest on horses allocated to them at random as they competed for the Jim Bailey (Lionel Vick Memorial) Silver Rose Bowl.

Sam Jones took the coveted prize home in the quirky event after clearing a height of 5ft 5ins, while Gemma Plumley took home £1,500 after winning the Oxfordshire area trial. Daniel Prater was named the best local rider, to win the Geff Tredwell trophy.

Unconventional dog show events also proved a hit with scores of pet owners queueing up to take part in categories such as “dog that looks most like its owner” and “dog with waggiest tail” as well as more conventional Kennel Club events featuring Jack Russells, Border Collies, Cocker Spaniels and Labradors, and contests for non-pedigree pets and rescue dogs.

Mum-of-two Sophie Hill, from Bicester, took her girls Ruby, four, and Lily, two, to the show.

She said: “The children have had an absolutely fabulous time. I think they’ve been on everything – they loved the merry-go-round and the dog show.

“We came last year and they’ve improved it this time – there’s even more for families to do.”