THE first Barton United fun day at the neighbourhood's community centre proved a hit despite the rain outside.

The event, organised by Barton United Football Club, gave friends and families a chance to catch up ahead of the start of the 2016/17 season next month.

Pouring rain washed away chances of outdoor games but inside the centre a steady number of locals tried their luck at the tombola, tried out karate and a penalty shootout, or chatted over tea and cake.

Football club chairman Mick Beesley said: "We're very pleased, everyone has worked together to put on a sterling event.

"The fun day is a nice opportunity to have a bit of a get-together before the football starts again and you also have changes to teams and new players, so it's a good way for people to meet each other as well.

"This year we didn't have a venue, then Sue Holden at the Barton Community Association kindly allowed us to use this place.

"It has been quieter than usual because of the weather but everyone is having a great time.

"The kids love it and the tombola, as always, has been a big draw."

One of the organisers, Louise Gomersalle, explained it was the first time the fun day had been held at the community centre since the club moved out of its former recreation ground in April.

It is being redeveloped as part of the new 885-home Barton Park Estate and will be replaced with a new ground and pavilion that will also be used by Headington Amateurs FC.

Ms Gomersalle, 38, said it was "a real team effort" to pull everything together for the event.

The mum-of-four added: "It's a much bigger venue but I think it has worked.

"We want to thank everyone who has helped out, it has been a great day."

Also there, giving free lessons in karate, was martial arts instructor Phil Patrick, who has been teaching some of his pupils from the estate in their mid-twenties since they were aged 10.

The 33-year-old, a 4th dan black belt in karate and a brown belt in Brazilian jujitsu, said: "It worked out really well because we've had a handful of my regular pupils come down today to practise and a similar number number who have never tried martial arts."

Five-year-old Kai Cuff, a yellow belt pupil who was there with dad Benji and mum Michelle Brown, said: "I really like karate. My favourite move is the roundabout kick."

Visitors were also challenged to guess the weight of vegetables and how many sweets were inside a jar, with dedicated six-year-old Sophie Lygo manning a cake sale stall.

She said: "Today has been really good. We've raised lots of money."

After trying to guess the weight of a big marrow, the youngster added: "It was like holding a really heavy baby."