Thirty-four charities are better off after Banbury mayor Jim Vine shared out his charity fund.

Cheques of varying amounts were given to representatives of charities at a ceremony in the town hall on Friday.

The mayor's fund totalled £6,400, raised at events held during his year in office and at his recent charity dinner and dance.

Cllr Vine and mayoress Kim Shaw said: "May we express our sincere thanks to all the people of Banbury for their tremendous support.

"The local response for the charity dinner was amazing. More than 100 companies gave tombola prizes and £2,000 was raised on that evening alone."

They said: "Altogether we have managed to raise £6,400 and we were pleased to distribute the money.

"We feel proud and humble to have served the community during the last year, and we wish the new mayor and mayoress the very best." The charities which benefited were: Britannia Road Family Centre, Willy Freund Centre, Midway at St Paul's, Home Farm Trust, 6th Banbury Rainbows, Volunteer Reading Help, Right Employment, Ryder-Cheshire Foundation, Easington Playgroup, Banbury Society for the Blind, Friends of Wade Gymnastics Club, Banbury Cross Twirlers, Young Stroke in North Oxon, Chernobyl Children Lifeline, Fairway Playgroup, Arctic Norway 2002, Brittle Bone Society, Breathe Easy Banbury, William Coyne and Adam Bennett -- World Scout Jamboree in Thailand, Miranda Walton -- music theatre summer course, The Samaritans Banbury, Macmillan Cancer Relief Banbury, Ruscote Youth Club, Amy Grant -- world challenge expedition to Madagascar, Banbury Red Cross, Raynet, 6th Banbury Scouts, Banbury & District Twinning Association, Borough of Banbury Trust, Fine Lady on a White Horse, Alzheimer's Society, Radical Skatepark Syndicate, Sunshine Centre and Islamic Relief.