CHILDREN flocked from an Oxford estate on Saturday to mark a special day in its heritage - and become part of its history themselves.

More than 100 children from Barton joined the first Underhill Circus Fun and Activity Day and organisers hailed the event a big success.

Pictures taken on the day will now be used to form a scrapbook of Barton's history, creating a library of events to be kept for future generations.

Sue Holden, secretary of the Barton Community Association, said: "It's been a fantastic day and has far exceeded our expectations. We couldn't have wished for anything better. This is what communities are all about. This has been a totally free event for everyone to come down and enjoy.

"We have taken loads of photographs which we will put into catalogues and keep as scrapbooks so that future generations will be able to look back and say this is what they were doing in Barton in 2007'."

There was a range of activities, including face-painting, a bouncy castle, ball pits, hair braiding, magic, balloon-making, and a mosaic workshop.

At 3.30pm all the children enjoyed a tea party, cooling down from the hot Saturday sun with jelly and ice cream.

Stacey Rohling, 31, whose four-year-old daughter Millie enjoyed everything the day had to offer, said: "It's been a brilliant day for bringing everyone together and for people to get to know each other. Sue and the other organisers have done a fantastic job.

"Events like this are good for the community and show that Barton is not as bad as it is sometimes made out."

Life-long Barton resident Donna Osbury, 36, said her three children Jack, 10, Unity, seven, and Freya, five, had really enjoyed the activities.

She said: "It's nice having a day that is aimed at younger children and they've been enjoying the inflatable slide and had henna tattoos done - they've loved it."

Beth Dullen, 10, said: "It's been the best day ever. My favourite thing has been having a butterfly painted on my face and playing on the slide."

Mrs Holden, who worked for three months to secure £1,200 for the event, said: "We want to raise more money now so that we can make these kind of days a regular feature on Barton's calendar."