THE renowned daffodil weekend extended into the centre of Newent with a Spring fayre on Saturday (March 23)

In addition to the free minibus to the second of the daffodil weekends at Oxenhall, there were activities in the town centre.

The fayre was the first organised by Buses4Us, Newent Town Council and Newent Business Club and raised money for Newent in Bloom, Newent Young Farmers and the project rebuild and reopen the swimming pool at Ann Cam Primary School in Dymock.

Clare Stone, of Buses4Us, explained: “This is the first Newent Spring Fayre. We have the daffodil weekends and Newent is very much part of that Golden Triangle but we have never done anything so this year we decided to do something.

“Hopefully if works – and it seems to be – it will be an annual event.”

There were a range of free activities including shire horse carriage rides around Newent Lake, dances by Ledbury Morris, musicians including the King’s Shilling shanty singers, face painting and family games at The Shambles and an onion hunt around the town and a craft fair and repair cafe at the memorial hall

One of the most popular features was a set of stocks – loaned by Ross Town Council –where people could throw wet sponges at volunteers.

Among the volunteers who agreed to be targets was Newent-based photographer Liv Pietragalla.

She said: “I always wanted to know how it would feel historically. How people would feel having things thrown but obviously I took more fun out of it.

“It was very cold.”

The last of the three daffodil weekends takes place on Saturday and Sunday (March 30 and March 31) in Dymock.

The free minibus shuttle will operate on both days from the bus stop near Newent Lake.