Majorettes will march through Oxford next month to raise funds for the special care baby unit at the John Radcliffe hospital.

The majorettes in action

The Twirling Spires are a new 12-strong troop, based in Marston. They will march from Tesco at the Cowley Retail Park to Tesco in Abingdon, at noon on Saturday.

A quarter of the proceeds from the sponsored challenge will go to the baby unit, with the remainder going towards troop funds.

The Twirling Spires was launched by mother-of-three Laura Smith, of Marston, last month. Mrs Smith, 26, has been a majorette for 20 years and was a member of the Cowley-based Strawberry Fair troop.

She said: "Majoretting is not as big here as it is in America and there now only two troops locally. But I think I enjoy it more because it's quite rare."

"It's hard to do but it's very fun. I enjoy it so much and my daughters do too, so it's something to pass to them."

The troop meets from 6.30-8.30pm every Thursday in Marston Royal British Legion Club in Hadow Road. Sessions cost £3.50.

For more information, or to sponsor the troop, call 01865 370917.