HUNDREDS gathered in Witheridge at the weekend for the annual St John's Fair.

People packed the village in celebration of the fair, which dates from 1248, when King Henry III granted the Lord of Witheridge the right to hold a fair on the feast of St John the Baptist.

Julie Holmes has lived in Witheridge for ten years and attended every St John's Fair since. She sold cake, coffee and tea in the Witheridge Centre. She said: "I think it has been busy this year and has been the same lovely festival as always.

"Things do come and go. We've not had the town criers this year, but everybody knows everybody and it is a community event."

Also busy were Lisa Lea and Mark Chapman, who ran a barbecue outside The Mitre Inn.

Lisa said: "When you live in the village, it is a great day. It really brings the community together."

Fellow chef Mark, whose parents, Andy and Barbara, own the pub, said: "It is something different and not much goes on in Witheridge, so it drags people out of their houses."

For Lisa, the highlight was the parade, where performers put on colourful displays in the hot sun and the drumming of Teignmouth's Street Heat samba performers echoed through the village.

The musicians were a hit with the village fire crew.

Watch manager Leighton Dart said: "We come every year because it is a great way of giving out safety advice to the local people."

Nigel Guttridge, who lives just outside the village, said: "It has in previous years been a bit dry, but there is more going on this year and it has been better. It is nice to have a look at the stalls, have a drink and meet up with people you haven't seen for ages."

On Saturday the Borderline Morris dancers were dressed in green and black to represent the Devon flag.

The Barnstaple group, which draws in dancers from as far afield as Tiverton and Ilfracombe, said it was the first time they had performed at the fair. Dancer Tony Whitson, from Bishop's Tawton, said the main parade had "gone well" and was "a lot of fun".

The village allotment society, Methodist chapel and ladies' group also had stalls, and vintage tractors and The Wallis Expansion Engine were on display.

In January, North Devon Council announced it would cut a £1,000 grant for the fair but organisers worked hard to recoup the lost funding by holding fundraising events.