A charity bookshop raised an astonishing 11,700 in three days last month, writes Maggie Hartford.

The money will go to the Rush Court residential and nursing home near Wallingford and other homes run by the Elizabeth Finn Trust.

The bookshop was set up by Gemma Clive and Joanna Peppiat selling books donated by friends at Joanna's converted barn at Turville, near Henley.

Gemma was chair of the Rush Court house committee and had the bookshop idea after a charity book sale raised 400. The trust was founded as the Distressed Gentlefolks Aid Association to help professional people and their families who fell on hard times.

Turville Books raised 39,935 from one-off private sales in the financial year, including the three-day sale in August. The Elizabeth Finn Trust gets 15,000 and the rest goes to other local charities, including Six Counties Kidney Patients Foundation.