A nursery spring fair, which was the brainchild of Bend it Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha, went down a treat in Primrose Hill.

Green Wing actor and Have I Got News For You guest-presenter Stephen Mangan cut the ribbon to officially open St Mark’s Square Nursery School’s first spring fair at St Mark’s Church in St Mark’s Square.

Mr Mangan said: “My son Harry loves coming to the nursery. He was excited that I was cutting the ribbon. Everybody shouted hoorah with Harry shouting the loudest!”

Around 200 people visited the fair, which featured face-painting, pinning the tail on the donkey, guess-the-number-of-sweets-in a jar, as well as refreshments and home-made cakes.

Film director Ms Chadha, who has two children at the nursery, organised the fair to publicise the nursery.

She said: “I feel people do not know there’s a nursery here and I did not want it to suffer with the recession.

“I’m absolutely delighted it stayed sunny. We had lots of kids and their families come down. There’s so much cake left over.”

Parent Azzi Glasser, of Rochester Square, who masterminded a scent-guessing game and a design your own perfumed candle game, said: “It was lovely - one of those idyllic old-fashioned fairs you don’t get anymore.”

Evie Panayrides, of Gladys Road, whose two children attend the nursery, said: “Today was a real success. The sun shone down on us and we had a great turnout.”

Sophie Dally-Clark, 9, a former nursery pupil, won the guess-the-number-of-sweets competition. She said “I am just really excited and pleased. I’ve had a brilliant day.”