Up to 100 women from three Oxford estates will be treated to lunch, pampering and an assertiveness workshop as part of International Women's Day.

Oxford Brookes University has collaborated with the Learning Communities Initiative (LCI) to provide an all day event celebrating womanhood for females from Barton, Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill.

The event on Saturday will see minibuses picking up women taken to Oxford Brookes University's Headington campus.

There, the women will learn how to empower themselves and be treated to lunch and pampering sessions including yoga, manicures and head and neck massages.

A nominal £2 charge per person will also see children looked after in a creche for the duration of the event.

Marie Jones, a university outreach worker, said the day would be a Communiversitycorr event - meaning it was aimed at forging better links between the university and community.

The day was being held of the LCI project which targets Barton, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys because they are among the most socially and economically deprived areas in Oxford.

Sue Funge, Learning Communities Co-ordinator for the Blackbird Leys Community Centre, which is helping to organise the day, said: "We are aiming to get 100 women from the three estates.

"It is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women.

"There will be an exhibition of famous women and local women from the three estates that have inspired others."

Mums have welcomed the chance to recognise the achievements of their sex.

Sam Cunningham, a mother-of-one from Field Avenue in Blackbird Leys, said: "I just think it is good to celebrate women. What women are doing in society should be recognised more.

Mother-of-four Maria O'Callaghan, 40, from Jersey Road in Rose Hill, said: "It is a good idea to do something like this to let women know they are still being thought of even though they are not on the best estates."

And Claire Patrick, 29, also a mother-of-four from Pegasus Road in Blackbird Leys, said: "It is about time people started looking after women, especially because they do so much looking after their kids and their men."

Places are still available and can bee booked by calling 01865 484 866.