SHOPPERS can stock up on guilt-free gifts as they help to raise cash to care for terminally ill patients.

Delicate items of jewellery will be sold alongside delicious homemade foodstuffs at Sobell House Hospice's annual gift extravaganza, which has been known to raise in the region of £10,000 for its base at the Churchill Hospital.

The hall at Radley College will be stuffed with more than 60 stalls for the all-day event on Saturday and Sunday, where hospice fundraiser Dominique Cadiou hopes to find unique items to put under her tree.

She said: "There are quite a lot of boutique-type things with knitwear, chocolates, exquisite jewellery - there is something for everyone, from wooden toys to smellies to men's gadgets.

"There really is a nice big range of things, I do all my Christmas shopping there.

"I recognise a lot of people who come; we have some very dedicated shoppers and supporters. I met a woman last year who had come along to every one."

The event has been running for 10 years and used to be hosted in stately home Kingston Bagpuize House, before moving to Radley College near Abingdon about six years ago.

Mrs Cadiou said: "It's one of the key fundraising events in the Sobell calendar. Trustees take a very active role in organising it.

"This year we completely sold out our stalls, we are absolutely full. Typically we have about 2,000 visitors come. It is heavily supported by volunteers, in true Sobell House style. We wouldn't be able to make it happen without the marshals or people on the door taking entrance fee."

The Headington hospice also embraces the festive spirit every year with its Lights of Love service, which will take place on December 10.

It puts up a Christmas tree and invites families and friends who have lost loved ones at the hospice to attach a message onto its branches.

Mrs Cadiou said: "We have patients here over the Christmas period and the garden will be decorated with a tree. We do mark Christmas, patients are served a Christmas lunch and have chocolates and we do carol singing."

Entry to the fair costs £5 or £2.50 for concessions, with all proceeds ploughed back into the hospice.

Buyers can drop by at the Kennington Road college from 10am until 5pm on Saturday, or 10am until 4.30pm on Sunday.

Sobell House celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and in September the Oxford Mail launched a campaign to raise £40,000 to put towards the hospice's £9m extension plans.

To donate please visit justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/shhc/oxmailsobellappeal or text OMSH76 with the amount you would like to give to 70070.