FOR crowds in Oxford, it heralded the countdown to the Olympic Games. But this weekend, the Tree of Light was lit up for the final time.

And for the thousands of children from across the region who took part, it is the end of a life-changing experience.

The massive artwork was the centrepiece of Oxford’s Olympic celebration and featured a choir of 450 as well as 1,200 other performers.

But Saturday marked the final showing of the performance in Stonor Park, near Henley.

The tree was slowly illuminated with LED lights during the hour-long performance.

Oliver Roy, 17, from Witney, was one of the dancers. He said: “It was a fantastic experience to be part of because you know it will never happen again.

“Everyone in the performance came together despite there being so many people.”

Creative producer Stewart Collins said: “It has been a three-year project and more than 1,000 people have been involved in it, but then I suddenly realised that was it.

“While it is sad when the last chord rings away, it was always the intention that the participants would continue to reap the benefits of the performance long after it happened.

“Being part of this was a total career highlight. I am sure all the people who took part will feel just a little bit closer to the Olympics now.”

The tree will next be seen publicly during a visit to next year’s Glastonbury Festival.

Forty metal-workers built the tree over eight days for the performance, which had an environmental theme.

The South Park celebration on Monday, July 9 attracted 20,000 county residents to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic Torch in the city.

It then went on tour around the Thames Valley, featuring in Reading’s Olympic Torch celebrations.

Marika Perkins, from Rotherfield Peppard, who saw the final performance with her family, said: “Our children felt it was the start of the Olympics for them.”