REVELLERS attending Oakridge Fair enjoyed blue skies and sunshine, as well as country dancing, folk music , pony rides and a bouncy castle.

The traditional English fair, which hosted a range of stalls and games was in aid of Oakridge Parochial School.

In Nailsworth, hundreds of shoppers celebrated the 20th anniversary of the town’s Emmaus shop.

Staff and volunteers thanked residents for their loyal support with a bumper sale and tea and coffee was served to customers, who enjoyed live music.

A little further from home in Portugal, Stroud MP Neil Carmichael met with EU representatives to discuss plans for a free trade deal with the US, which he said could unlock billions of pounds worth of investment for Britain.

Back in the Five Valleys, it was D-Day for the organisers of Stroud in Bloom as the judges arrived at Stratford Park to cast their eye over the town’s entry for 2013.

Volunteers were later thrilled to find the town had won gold for a second successive year.
Staying in the town centre, shoppers made the most of a range of discounts and promotions as scores of traders celebrated Independents’ Day in Stroud.

Dozens of retailers came up with special offers, which ran throughout the day, to thank customers and to encourage shoppers to help fly the flag for independent retailers.

Painswick residents were treated to sunshine and fun at the town’s summer fair celebrations, which featured birds of prey, an ice-cream machine and 60 orange and white balloons.

Meanwhile, activists from Stroud Against the Cuts and members of the district’s Labour Party marked the 65th birthday of the NHS by protesting in the town centre against the ongoing privatisation of health services.

Towards the end of July, thousands attended the annual Stroud Country Show, with organisers hailing the event an “outstanding success”.

Actress Joanna Lumley gave schoolgirls two vital tips for getting on in life - turn off your mobile phone and never go on the dole during speech day at Westonbirt School near Tetbury.