A charity has already received 15 pledges from people ready and willing to turn £1 into £1,000 to fund breast cancer research.

Against Breast Cancer (ABC), based at Harwell, kicked off The Power of One Big Bang with a reception, hosted by the Witney and district fundraising committee.

Guest of honour was TV presenter and former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who is backing the campaign.

"It was a great success and 15 individuals, organisations and businesses signed up on the spot," said ABC fundraiser Jeanne Chattoe, from Witney, who dreamed up the innovative scheme.

"That means £15,000 will be coming in to fund the work of ABC -- but we still need more people to get involved!

"A thousand pounds sounds like an awful lot of money, but with a little effort it is easily achievable, and you will receive plenty of help and back-up from ABC."

Those who have signed up include the mayor of Witney, David Harvey, and his deputy, Andrew Creery.

Mr Harvey's partner, Chrissie Curry, said: "Every single woman should be supporting research into breast cancer.

"David and I have a friend of 32 who has suffered from it, but is now doing well, and we decided that we would take on this challenge.

"We will be rattling our brains to come up with a good way of raising £1,000."

Shepherdess Bridget Griffiths, from Buckland Marsh, near Bampton, who took part in last year's TV challenge Survivor! is also supporting the campaign. She plans to hold a car boot sale to start her fundraising.

The Oxford International College of Beauty, in High Street, Witney, is selling £10 vouchers for pampering sessions.