People who have raised money for Burford Hospital are being asked what should be done with 200,000 left in the kitty, writes Suzanne Huband.

The Burford Hospital Comforts and Amenities Fund has raised money for the hospital for more than 30 years. The hospital was axed earlier this year by the Oxfordshire Community Health NHS Trust.

People in the town set up the Burford Phoenix Trust and hope to buy the building to retain a range of healthcare facilities in the town. The hospital is still open three days a week as a day centre for elderly people and a specialist Alzheimers unit.

Fund treasurer Dick Sargent said the closure of the hospital meant the fund, a registered charity, would have to change its objects and rules.

He said: "Its original purpose was to relieve patients and former patients of the Burford and District Cottage Hospital, who are sick, convalescent, disabled, handicapped, infirm or who need financial help."

An extraordinary general meeting of fund members will be held in Burford Church on Wednesday, September 27, at 7pm. Mr Sargent added: "They will be asked to consider the options of carrying on the fund in some form or other or dissolving it and transferring its assets to another charity.

"Rather than committing itself exclusively to supporting the Phoenix Trust, a continuing fund could serve to support patients and their families from Burford in hospitals in Witney and Chipping Norton as well as in their homes."