Thousands of visitors experienced life in medieval times at the popular Herald of Spring Festival at Bourne Hall.

More than 4,000 visitors attended the “Flower of Chivalry”, which took place earlier this month and transformed Bourne Hall into a medieval castle and village.

Visitors followed paths between fortified turrets and a monastery cloister and listened as villagers in period costume explained their crafts.

Offenders were clamped in stocks while knights fought for the honour of fair ladies to the cheers of an excited crowd of adults and children.

Young visitors tried their hand at calligraphy, brass rubbing and knight school and even took part in a special heraldry competition.

Activities from the medieval war games workshop, story-telling and performances of medieval dance helped bring give a period feel ad did the presence of re-enactment group Paladins of Chivalry, well-known for their TV appearances.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, chairman of the leisure committee, said: “The Herald of Spring is a vibrant community event and it was wonderful to see so many people come through the doors to experience it.

"A lot of work by council staff and volunteers goes into creating the Herald of Spring, and this year it had something to delight everyone, whatever their age.”

In addition to its medieval theme, the festival had sessions from the Epsom Light Opera, the Epsom Players and the Epsom and Ewell Silver Band.

The floral displays produced by volunteers for the medieval village and the Craft and Flower market were also popular attractions.

Since it first began in the mid 1970s, having evolved from the Mayor’s Banquet floral display, Bourne Hall’s Herald of Spring festival has grown bigger each year. Previous events had as themes the Romans, Saxons, wartime and the 1950s.