ST GEORGE'S DAY: St George wasn't a stranger to these parts if local legend is to be believed.

Dragon Hill, a prominent natural outcrop on the lower slopes of White Horse Hill near Uffington, is so-called because it is believed to be the site of the great battle between George and the dragon.

When St George finally struck the fatal blow, the dragon's blood gushed out onto the hilltop and the grass has refused to grow there ever since.

The White Horse, which is the oldest and most famous hill figure at between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, supposedly represents the dragon.

The banner of St George, the red cross of a martyr on a white background, has been around since about 1277.

It was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers possibly in the reign of Richard I, and later became the flag of England and the White Ensign of the Royal Navy.