HUNDREDS of children had a go at face painting, juggling and junk modelling at a play day to celebrate the county’s links to the military.

Organised by Oxfordshire Play Association, the first of six Armed Forces Play Days took place around the Families Centre, in Ambrosden, near Bicester, on Thursday. Almost 1,000 people dropped into the event to try their hand at free activities including a bouncy castle, climbing wall, go-karts and circus skills.

Amanda Saint and daughter Isla, six, travelled from Chinnor to join a friend for the play day.

She said: “It was brilliant, the kids had a good time and it was hard to drag them away.

“Isla loved the climbing wall. She was a bit nervous and went back for a second go. She felt she had achieved something.”

Louise McDowall, whose son Aaron, seven, said: “Aaron loved the quad bike and football skills with Oxford United’s Peter Rhoades-Brown.”

The next play days take place at Benson village sports field, on Saturday; RAF Brize Norton, on May 19; Vauxhall Barracks, in Didcot, on Wednesday, June 6; Defence Academy, Shrivenham, on June 7, and Dalton Barracks, Abingdon, on June 9.