CROWDS in their hundreds flocked into Downton on Saturday to welcome the arrival of May by celebrating with the now-traditional Cuckoo Fair.

Even the weather put on a happier face for the day-long festivities - the high winds and heavy rain of the previous day deciding to take a rest.

The village green, which runs through the centre of The Borough, was packed tight with more than 250 stalls, sideshows and marquees, all offering something of interest to all ages and all tastes.

A new feature this year was a produce market, introduced to encourage and help local farmers and horticulturists.

Among those selling their home-grown produce were the New Forest Jam and Chutney Company, New Forest Bee Products, Loosehanger Cheeses, from Redlynch, and Lyburn Cheeses, from near Romsey.

Charities from far and wide had stalls and there were exhibits by many local clubs, including the Salisbury and District Cage Bird Society.

Rural arts and crafts were in abundance and there was plenty of music to help the day go with a swing.

Guitarist Mike Ireland, born and bred in the village, entertained the crowds with music by the legendary Shadows, which he has also performed on a recently-published CD. The Gerry Brown Mission Hall Jazz Band had toes tapping and Downton resident Paul Leo brought the Churches Together Band.

Music and dancing is always a theme of the Cuckoo Fair and this year was no exception.

The Sarum Morris Dancers were joined by the Tourney Hobby Horse Hob-Nob, showing off his new head, made in the village. There was maypole dancing, the Spank the Plank Appalacian Dancers and Hale Cloggs, plus entertainment for the young from Jonathan the Jester, a circus workshop and Punch and Judy.

Reigning over the day was 11-year-old Cuckoo Princess Sophie Vandyck, with her two attendants, Zuzu Seden (11) and Molly Read (11).

They made a grand entrance in a horse-drawn carriage, which was escorted in a procession through the village led by Downton Band, young dancers from the Downton School of Dancing, jazz musicians, Sarum morris dancers and, of course, the Downton Cuckoo Banner.

The fair is run on a non-profit-making basis and is organised by a committee headed by chairman Tony Pike, who proved the dedication of committee members by turning up on the day despite the fact that he had only been discharged from hospital the previous afternoon following a hip-replacement operation.

The weekend's festivities continued on Sunday with an interdenominational service, a tea dance and a band concert, and on Bank Holiday Monday, there was a clay pigeon shoot, a car boot sale and, in the evening, an event featuring Abbaland and local group Brian Moon and the Satellites.