SCORES of people enlisted for Downton Moot's Edwardian Picnic on Saturday to commemorate the centenary of the First World War.

Jubilee Brass played patriotic tunes from the Edwardian era on the sunken lawn while suffragettes chained themselves to the railings of the Moot's new balustrade and demanded votes for women.

Those who ventured further into grounds watched an Edwardian couple taking tea under the shade of the trees, living statues posing and the paperboys of Downton Academy of Dramatic Art shouting the outbreak of war.

In the amphitheatre, Downton community choir sang songs from the period including Goodbye Dolly and Me and My Gal, Suite Jazz played mellow jazz and Downton Drama Company performed a medley from Oh What a Lovely War.

There were cucumber sandwiches, tea and cake for sale for those in need of light refreshment.

The afternoon of music, singing and drama was masterminded by Jane Seden, with Kate Edgar conducting the choir and providing the musical accompaniment.

The afternoon was also an opportunity to officially open the Moot's refurbished entrance gate and new railings, created at Jacks Bush Forge after the wooden balustrade rotted and was vandalised.

Charles Greville-Heygate, chairman of Downton Moot Preservation Trust, said: "The new railings look absolutely stunning and, hopefully, in a hundred years time people will be admiring them still as we are now.

"It's been a fantastic day and it's been lovely to see The Moot used by so many people. As you wander through, the whole atmosphere is magic."