THE Mad Hatters of Wantage performed a panoply of jigs, hornpipes and reels in appropriately mad weather in Wantage.

The folk trio started playing in blazing sunshine in Wantage Market Place on Saturday morning only to be forced to stop by a dramatic downpour.

Then, as quickly as it has started, the rain stopped and the friends bounced back out to finish their set in the sun.

Accordion player Sem Seaborne, who lives in Manor Road, Wantage, said: "It all went very well apart from the rainy interlude.

"We were relying on a weather forecast which, of course, didn't happen, so we made an emergency dive undercover for 20 minutes."

The set list included 17th century English folk favourite Gallotede, Irish standard Kid on the Mountain and a more sedate Cheshire Waltz.

Passers-by who liked what they heard were invited to make a donation to Wantage Independent Advice Centre, just a few yards away in the Market Place.

The Mad Hatters were also promoting their own next gig as part of Wantage Summer Festival – a concert of music by Irish national composer Carolan at the Vale and Downland Museum in Wantage on Thursday, July 14.

Find out more details at wantagesummerfestival.com