LIFE on the waterways was celebrated in the sunshine this weekend as boaters, craft enthusiasts and tourists came to the annual Banbury Canal Day.

Sunday saw the event’s 11th year and thousands flocked to the Oxford Canal beside Castle Quay shopping centre for the day.

Activities at the Banbury Town Council event included live entertainment, displays of boatyard work, falconry and fairground rides.

Dave Barlow, 59, and wife Lilian travel from their home in Thrupp, near Kidlington, along the Oxford Canal to Banbury each year in their narrowboat, Calm Down.

This year they were helping to raise money for Oxfordshire-based charity ROSY, which supports terminally and acutely ill youngsters.

The father-of-two said: “We come every year and it’s always worthwhile. There were plenty of people and the trip to Banbury is a very pleasant one.

“This year we held a tombola to help raise money for ROSY. It was a good day and very busy too.”

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