An appeal to raise £300,000 to block development in a village square has fallen well short of its target.

Only £100,000 was pledged in cash by yesterday's appeal deadline in Bampton.

And the man who master-minded the campaign, Julian Johnston, has called it quits.

Villagers are united in opposition to plans to build ten flats on the site of the former Market Square Garage.

Mr Johnston, of The High Street, tried to raise £300,000 to buy the site from developers. One idea was to turn the site into a village green, or public open space.

Mr Johnson said: "We have tried. It was disappointing but predictable, I suppose.

"I personally have tried very hard, but now have opted out. It is now up to others, including the parish council, to see if they want to carry on and sort out the muddle.

"We have reached £100,000 which is a fantastic amount of money, but not sufficient. "

Story date: Tuesday 02 March

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