VISITORS to the Vale and Downland Museum have a spring in their step, thanks to a season of live music.

The venue in Wantage is running its short season of Music in the Museum Saturday sessions.

The Madhatters, a local band that more often gets booked for weddings, put on an intimate show for diners at the museum cafe, on Saturday, June 6.

On Saturday, June 27, long-time museum supporters Pandemonium will return with a foot-tapping medley of traditional tunes from 10.30am to 12.30pm, and Wantage’s own Shotgun Weather Ferret will play their first museum gig on Saturday, July 4, from 10.30am to noon.

The Flower of the Quern will play a lively mixture of tunes when they visit on Saturday, August 1, from 10am-noon.

Among those museum visitors who got a surprise when they stumbled upon the first gig of the season, by the Madhatters, were Mel Strange and her family, from Charlton, who had popped in for some Saturday lunch.

They found the place alive with the fiddles and drums of Ceilidh music.

Mrs Strange, 35, who took to the floor with daughter Ellie, three, said: “It was a nice surprise and it got us up and dancing which is great for a Saturday morning.”

Receptionist Ann Rolls said the Madhatters’ traditional set had proved popular with the crowd.

She said: “It was very family-friendly, there were little ones running up and down and toddlers bouncing on bums, it was a definite success.”

It continues a diverse programme of summer entertainment at the museum.

Earlier this month, it held a satirical art show described as probably “the most quirky and original” it has had in at least 10 years.

Hendred-based John Paul Groves, who only became an artist a few years ago, made his satirical show from plastic, party poppers and household junk.

He uses “grenades”, “elephants” and “cocker spaniels” to present an ironic view of topical issues such as the exploitation of the planet and rural housing developments.

The next exhibition will be staged by Grove Art Group, from July 7-18.

The museum, run by a charitable trust, has been nationally acclaimed as an outstanding example of community partnership. It attracts about 53,000 visitors per year and has a cafe and gift shop.

For more information, see wantage-museum.com