Youngsters enjoy entertainment at St George's Day celebrations in Wallingford

The day of festivities to mark England’s national saint’s day took place on Sunday but traders' organisation Wallingford Partnership Ltd staged an event on Saturday so shops could join in the celebrations.

There were Punch and Judy shows, South Stoke Primary School pupils entertained shoppers with maypole dancing, and the Bigg Band from Wallingford School also performed.

Another attraction at the event was the Morris dancing team Old Speckled Hen, which comes from the Wallingford area.

Mayor of Wallingford Ros Lester launched the celebrations at 11am followed by a performance of the Bigg Band and the first Punch and Judy show started shortly after noon.

Mrs Lester said: "It was a fantastic day. The sun was shining and a good crowd turned out for the celebrations.

"There was plenty of entertainment for the youngsters - they loved the Punch and Judy shows, and saw the donkeys from Island Farm sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell.

"There was also a fun fair which the toddlers particularly enjoyed.

"It's good for the traders to have these celebrations on a Saturday - lots of them got into the spirit of things and got their bunting out and the Cancer Research shop had a red and white window.

"Wallingford is very good at organising these kind of celebrations. I think we do remarkably well for a small town."

Mrs Lester said shoppers were also entertained by author David Beasley, who staged an exhibition of old photos in the town hall.

The mayor added: "It was a fascinating exhibition showing Wallingford at Play - David has a fantastic collection of old photos."

Streets around the market place closed from 10am and the event ran from 11am to 3pm.

Derrick Hoare, chairman of traders’ organisation Wallingford Partnership Ltd, said earlier that hundreds of people come along throughout the day to join in with the celebrations.

Wallingford Partnership Ltd was formed in 2007 to support businesses in the town.