Cranford Park's resident ghost proved less elusive than usual as hundreds gathered to see the fascinating history of the grounds brought to life.

The Grey Lady, who is said to haunt the park, off The Parkway, was one of many costumed characters entertaining visitors at Cranford Park Remembers on Saturday (August 2).

Members of the Knights Templar, who called the park home during the Middle Ages, staged sword fights and demonstrated other weapons.

A snazzily-dressed huntsman, liked those who once lived it up at the long-demolished Cranford House; a highwayman (or woman in this case) and a cigar-puffing Winston Churchill (St Dunstan's Church warden Stan Streather) were also among those roaming the grounds.

As well as hunting down the Grey Lady, youngsters enjoyed storytelling sessions, river-dipping and the chance to feed and pet animals from a rare breeds farm during the day. Visitors were also invited to add their recollections of the park's past to a memory wall.

Bob Barton, chairman of Cranford Park Friends, which organised the annual event, said he believed it had proved even more popular than last year, when 300 people attended.

He added that the park's home-made wine and honey had quickly sold out and the cakes were all snapped up by mid-afternoon.

The Grey Lady was played by Susan Smith, of the Outline Theatre Group, with fellow actors dressing as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Earl of Berkeley, who used to own the park.

The West Drayton-based theatre group will next month perform an open-air play in the park's courtyard, using song, dance and drama to tell the history of the area between 1780 and the end of the First World War in 1918.

Wheat to War will be staged on September 27 and 28, at 3pm on each day. Tickets cost just £4 (under-fives go free) and are available at www.outlinetheatre.co.uk or from the box office on 01895 851 936.