Thousands of pounds were handed over to Oxfordshire's political parties to help secure a General Election victory.

The Electoral Commission has published details of donations given to bolster the parties' battle funds before polling in May.

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith was the biggest winner, receiving local donations totalling £14,500 in the past six months from shopkeepers' union, Usdaw.

The union has paid regular donations to the Oxford East Labour Party for the past four years.

Wantage Conservatives were bolstered by two donations of more than £3,000 after the defection of Robert Jackson to Labour.

MP Ed Vaizey said: "It is very important these figures are released to the public because they have a right to know who donated to which political parties.

"We got more money because of Robert Jackson's defection. In an ironic way, his actions managed to kick-start our fundraising drive."

Witney MP David Cameron secured a single £7,500 gift to help pay election expenses.

In Banbury, local firm Torex Retail gave £3,000 to MP Tony Baldry following a fundraising dinner.

His agent, Kevin Thorpe, said: "People were extremely generous and wanted to see that we won."

The Oxfordshire Green Party got a windfall donation of £1,030 in February.