OXFORD'S third annual Mela, an event celebrating the city's cultural diversity, was hailed a great success.

An estimated 5,000 people took advantage of the good weather to visit the event in Cowley Marsh Park yesterday.

They enjoyed everything from performances of Indian dhol drumming, belly dancing and Afghani music to bhangra, sporting events and competitions.

Organiser Nisha Prakash said: "It went really well. The weather was windy, but still dry.The atmosphere was very positive and upbeat and everyone gathered together to watch all the music and dance.

"I think the Mela is important because it breaks down barriers between people and encourages them to work with each other.

"It celebrates the differences and is all about diversity."

A total of 13 different musical and dance acts performed on stage and in sport, terms of the sporting element, 10 football teams vied to be the best, along with 13 volleyball teams and 60 people competing against each other in skater hockey.Music from around the world was on offer, along with a range of different styles of dance.

Hannah Chandler, 39, of Glanville Road, came to the event with her six-year-old daughter Grace and son George, nine, who performed in St Christopher's School's Dhol Band.

She said: "I have been to all the Melas. It is just good for the community to see different types of performing art with different ethnic groups.

"It's a chance to get together and have a nice afternoon."

Rakhi Madan, 25, from Jericho, was experiencing her first Oxford Mela.

She said: "It is nice and chilled out, with lots of good entertainment.

"I think it's nice how everyone gets together and there is stuff for kids and adults, which is good."

Children's activities were held throughout the day, including puppet-making and African drumming.

There was also the opportunity to get your face and hands painted.

Teresa Crossingham, of Cowley Road, who is eight months' pregnant, brought along her one-year-old, Eva.

She said: "I like it because it is multicultural. I work with children so it is nice to come and meet people and see all the children coming together."

And the day was also popular with Max Mohammed, 23, from Cowley, who brought her three-year-old daughter Alishba Irfan.

She said: "It was really good. We did some face-painting and some henna hand-painting and watched the music on stage. It was fun."