THE bank holiday weekend drew crowds for a number of weird and wonderful events including a teddy bear parachuting festival and a woolly day.

The bears took to the air in Hilmarton while at Lackham College sheep were the main attraction.

Down the road in Lacock children took on the guise of their favourite TV and book characters as part of the May fair celebrations.

A teddy first-aider was on hand at the first event of this year's Hilmarton Parish Festival to stitch on any legs and arms which came flying off parachuting bears.

More than 60 teddy-owners took their favourite cuddly toys along to the parachute drop from the top of the village church on Saturday.

For just £3 a go, youngsters, as well as a few big kids, had the chance to throw their bear off the church tower on a parachute, and were give a commemorative certificate and sticker.

The proceeds, which came to nearly £300 after the sale of cream teas, will be split between local groups, including the primary school and WI.

Organiser Jacqui Henly said: "It was really successful."

Bears of all shapes and sizes, with many in flying gear, were hurled from the tower at 3pm and not a single one got lost.

"We had one very large bear which we left right until the end because we were worried it would break the rope we used to hoist them back up again, but he actually flew really well," said Mrs Henly.

The next event in the parish festival's calendar is a summer supper in the church hall at 7pm on May 18.

Other events include a car treasure hunt, beetle drive, music appreciation day, coffee morning, barn dance, art exhibition, the village fete and a songs of praise evening.

Foxes, dinosaurs and television's The Tweenies descended on Lacock on Monday in a colourful procession heralding the return of the primary school's May fair.

Carol Sugg, chairman of the Friends of Lacock Primary School, said the fair had not taken place since her children, Dale and Dawn, who are now in their 30s, were at school.

"It was absolutely brilliant and we raised £860 which is more than we usually raise through the plant sale, which is what the fair dwindled down to," said Mrs Sugg.

She said the fair had been resurrected following the arrival of headteacher Sue Worringham in Easter last year. She led the procession, accompanied by music, which featured around 20-25 pupils in fancy dress.

Jessica Sims, seven, and her three-year-old sister Elizabeth dressed as The Tweenies, and Mrs Sugg said they made for a colourful treat in front of mum Lucy, a school governor, and dad Paul.

"There were about 50 people watching as we walked round, mainly tourists taking pictures," added Mrs Sugg.

The children also put on a country dancing show, and Maypole dancing, choreographed by Mrs Worringham.

Mrs Sugg said a plant stall, cake stall, bric-a-brac and games stalls were other attractions. The money raised will go to school funds.

Lackham Country Park welcomed visitors to its first Wiltshire Woolly Day on bank holiday Monday.

It explored aspects of sheep-rearing and the history of the wool trade.

Visitors of all ages took the opportunity to spin and weave wool, under the guidance of members of the Wiltshire Guild of Spinners, Weavers and Dyers.

Children were entertained with a variety of hands-on activities, including themed quizzes, animal handling and rag rug making.

They could also view the progress of an archaeological dig at the site suspected of being the setting for the old Lackham House, built in Tudor times.