Three schoolgirls forfeited birthday presents to raise cash for charity.

The girls, all pupils at Langford Primary School in Peregrine Way, Bicester, hosted a joint tenth birthday party.

Instead of their 45 guests bringing presents, Rebecca Astle, Natalie Pigott and Catherine Lamb asked them to donate money to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. The party, at Langford Community Centre, in Nightingale Place, raised more than £300.

Catherine's mother, Penny Lamb, of Goldcrest Way, said: "I think they just felt Christmas was so close and they had so many people coming to the disco that they decided they would help other children instead of themselves.

"We are all very proud of them."