Villagers will be seeing their fellow men and women as they have never seen them before, writes Nigel Hanson.

Twelve volunteers, including a publican, carpenter and landscape gardener, are the stars of a photographic exhibition at Brightwell-cum-Sotwell, near Wallingford.

They dressed up to have their pictures taken as Greek and Roman gods and other heroes from ancient history.

The results, in the exhibition entitled Local Heroes, are on display in the Slade End House in the village today and tomorrow. The exhibition, in aid of Imperial Cancer Research Fund, is the brainchild of two freelance photographers who live in the village, Chris Baines and Sue Robson.

Mr Baines, who works for BBC magazines, said he had the idea for the show after coming across a 1913 photo of a villager dressed as a goddess for a musical.

He said: "We thought it would be fun to bring the idea up to date. As the village is awash with 'local heroes' of its own, Sue and I, and several others, set about casting them in their new roles.

"We have spent weeks researching the legendary figures, the styling of the portraits, and ensuring that the clothes, the set and the props were just right."

He said he had always noticed that the village had more than its fair share of beautiful and striking faces.

The 12-strong cast includes human resources manager, Helen Frankland, as Boadicea, student Amy Rudd as Venus, and recruitment consultant Simon Ponsonby as Pan.

Admission is 1 to the exhibition, which is open from 10am to 4am, and framed prints will be on sale and all proceeds will go to charity.