FOREIGN visitors to Oxfordshire usually head to Blenheim Palace or Christ Church Cathedral.

But one group of Japanese tourists wanted a more authentic experience.

So 136 students turned up at a village fete in tiny North Aston, near Bicester.

The group – many of whom wore traditional clothes – tried their hand at welly wanging, Battle with Buccaneers, William Tell, Bunny Buzz Off and Pheasant’s Revenge at the event on Saturday.

They also sampled local cakes, ice cream, afternoon tea and the typically British tombola.

Organiser John Harvey-Lee said the visit had been pre-arranged by Tudor Hall School, near Bloxham, where the students were staying.

He said: “They had wanted to introduce them to English countryside pursuits such as welly wanging. The fete had been well advertised around the countryside.

“It was a good day, although the weather was not as good as we’d hoped. We had a good turnout and it all looked good.

“The Japanese were a wonderfully colourful mixed bag.

“Some looked like American teenagers in long shorts and T-shirts and others wore more traditional clothes. Some of the boys wore culotte-style trousers and some of the girls were in full kimono dress.”

Cash raised from the fete will be split between the church and village.