HUNDREDS of families descended on Abbey Gardens, Abingdon, for the annual Fun in the Park event.

Sports clubs, churches, charities, and community groups were all raising money and trying to attract new members from the visitors who streamed into the town council’s annual free fun day on Saturday.

Soldiers from 12 Logistic Support Regiment, based at Dalton Barracks, manned a mini assault course for children, who could also scale a climbing wall, learn how to draw cartoons and take part in the annual tug-of-war. Among the children enjoying the fun in the sun were best friends Nicholas Bishop and Adam Bradley, both 4, who have just started at Dunmore Primary School.

Nicholas’ mum Carol, 41, said: “We’ve come in previous years and it’s always been a fantastic family day out. There is so much going on. My daughter, Laura, is nine and she’s on the climbing wall and has met up with all her friends there.”

The only ‘suspicious-looking’ character was Sweeney Todd, who turned out to be actor Edward Blagrove, 27, of Abingdon Operatic Society, which is rehearsing for a production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical at the end of October. He said: “Apart from learning the lines and the music, I’ve actually been reading a lot of true crime books about people who have set out to take revenge on people to try to understand how a human can do it.

“Today’s about promoting the show, and trying to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Dozens of people gathered to watch a display by CEROC Oxford, which runs modern jive dance classes in Abingdon Guildhall every Tuesday night.

Mayor Patricia Hobby said: “I’m really thrilled with the whole day. There seems to be more stalls and crowds coming in than ever.

“It’s a wonderful family outing, and the whole thing seems to have gone so smoothly.”