YOUNGSTERS were yesterday enjoying the animals and activities at newly-opened Cogges Manor Farm Museum in Witney.

Children got to play with guinea pigs, chickens and ducklings, explore a straw bail maze and make mud pies.

The farm has an outdoor mud pie kitchen, where youngsters can mix soil and water in pots and pans to create the pies.

Evan Fitzhugh, 12, said: “It has been really fun, especially holding the guinea pigs and throwing the mud pies.”

His brother, nine-year-old Max said: “Cogges is really fun and cool.

“I really enjoyed all the animals – the guinea pigs were really cute.”

The farm was closed in 2009 after Oxfordshire County Council withdrew cash. It re-opened in July. It is now run by a team of volunteers, whose business plan was described by Prime Minister and Witney MP David Cameron as “enterprising”.

Interim operations manager Mollie Dodd said: “It was fantastic day and it is great to be open again.

“Kids love it here because they have free rein. They can run around a lot of space and there are a lot of activities for them to do.”

Cogges Farm, in Church Lane, is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.

At the weekend it costs £5 for adults and £2.50 for children to enter, but during the week it is free.