BBC NEWS political editor James Landale opened Sutton Scotney’s Gratton Festival last Saturday.

Mayor of Winchester Cllr Eileen Berry also attended and helped the village’s Henry Hopwood, four, officially open the newly-refurbished playground.

Sutton Scotney’s Fire Service marked its 75th anniversary by bringing four engines to the popular event, while Army personnel provided a military assault course and there was singing and dancing galore at a Gratton’s Got Talent contest.

Local bands Frenzied and Diligent, Midge and The Tree Fellers and Acoustic Dever performed during the day, and a music festival was held in the evening.

Chairman of The Gratton Trust John Polak said: “The aim of the event is to raise income for the trust, which was set up as a charity in 1997 to manage the valuable shared space known as The Gratton, generously given in trust to the community by Lord Arthur Rank.

“We are responsible for all day-to-day maintenance, from cutting the grass to repairing the pavilion and providing playground equipment.

“Just to cover annual running costs we need to raise £15,000 every year.”