AN ONLINE campaign has raised more than £1,000 to try to save the financially troubled Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe (ODW).

Costume collector and expert Alex Graham, 88, has been hiring out her collection of 7,500 costumes since she inherited it in 1968.

She and fellow volunteer Carole Johnson are being evicted from their former aircraft hangar home in Steventon because they cannot pay the rent.

Fellow thespian Laura Fisher, from London, has launched a fundraising webpage to help them pay their debt and find a new place.

Mrs Fisher, who runs an online shop for school theatre groups, said: “We heard of Alex’s story through a friend and couldn’t help but do something to help.

“We met with Alex and had a three-hour tour of the facility. If we don’t save it, the collection will be broken up and given away – a national treasure will be forgotten and lost.

“We can’t promise what will happen unless we act now.”

She has asked people to lend a hand on moving day, help make an inventory or “Tweet someone famous” to help garner support.

Mrs Fisher and Ms Johnson are looking for a space of about 3,000sq ft they can move into.

See the campaign at indiegogo.com/projects/ for-frocks-sake-save-oxfordshire-drama-wardrobe