VILLAGERS showed 'Dunkirk spirit' and defied the rain to enjoy an array of food and activities at the Wolvercote Big Lunch.

The weather has not looked fondly on the event in recent years and Sunday was no different, but it didn't stop those who stuck it out from having a good time.

The gathering aims to encourage people to have lunch with their neighbours, with a marquee set up for people to grab a plate and fill up on delicious home-cooked food that included dhal, potato and pasta salads, chicken, vegetables, quiche and onion bhajis.

All the food was cooked, grown and made by residents in the village.

Organiser Teresa Hall said the event - now in its ninth year - was becoming more and more popular.

"The crux of it is that people bring food to share and it's completely free.

"It's inclusive and has a real community feel to it - and people are as keen as ever for these events."

She added: "Everybody had a great time and it galvanises the village."

The dog agility show, new for this year, was a hit with the villages' cohort of dogs that regularly bound around in Wolvercote Common and Port Meadow.

The fire crew from Oxford also turned up for the festivities and were very quickly roped into taking part in the tug of war competition on Wolvercote Green.

Ms Hall said: "The Dunkirk spirit kicked in as it usually does at the big lunch.

"But the hardcore people stuck it out all day despite it being wet and cold - it was all a bit of a giggle really.

"The bands were amazing and all played for nothing and it turned out to be a really good day."

There was also a bouncy castle, farm produce for sale, workshops, a tug-of-war, and a 'kids’ olympics' for the youngsters in the village.

After the success of new additions this year in the form of the dog agility competition and a comedy art show organisers called for more ideas for next year.

She added: "It will be more of the same next year but also hopefully something a bit different - I should have mentioned it on the day but it would great to get ideas from people of what they would like to see and what could be done differently for next year."