Sales of the Oxford Loyal wristbands continue to soar with demand exceeding supply at some shops in the city and even local celebrities wearing them.

The bright yellow and blue bands, launched on Wednesday by Oxford United chairman Nick Merry, are a huge hit with supporters from Oxfordshire and beyond.

Eleven-year-old Oxfordshire singer Zoe Mace, who received her band ahead of her charity show at the New Theatre tomorrow, believes they are a great idea to back our team.

Profits from the sale of the bands, which cost £1 and feature the club and Oxford Mail logos, will be split between the Oxford Children's Hospital Campaign and United's youth development squad.

Zoe said: "Wristbands are really popular so this seems like a good way of raising money for good causes. I've been wearing mine and I think they'll really catch on."

Hundreds have been sold in post offices, newsagents and shops in Oxford, with some store owners begging for more to cope with demand.

Fans wanting to show their support for the U's will have to be quick as there are only 2,000 on sale.

At the Spar shop in Dunnock Way, Greater Leys, store assistant Sarah Taylor said: "People are very keen on them, we've had people coming in to buy nothing but their Oxford Loyal bands.

"They seem to be making special trips to us just to get them."

And at the Box of Delights shop in Shipton Road, Woodstock, Pritesh Patel said: "The bands are really catching on. I've found that once one kid has one, they all come in asking for them."

At the post office in Rose Hill, one assistant told us: "The demand has been so huge that we sold out first thing and have been calling and calling requesting more batches of bands."

It has been equally busy at the Oxford Mail's headquarters in Osney Mead, Oxford, where the bands are being sold in reception.

Driving instructor John Corti took time out from lessons to come in and buy three.

Mr Corti, 38, from Botley, said: "As soon as I saw Nick Merry on the front of the Mail the other day and saw he'd launched these bands, I thought they were a good idea and wanted to get hold of some.

"I've bought three, just so I've got a couple of spares should they break.

"I've been a United season ticket holder for four years and will be wearing my band with pride.

"I'm really looking forward to next season and am confident we'll only have one season in the Conference."

Ben Palmer, a United fan of 25 years, called into the Oxford Mail head office, in Osney Mead, to buy five bands.

Mr Palmer, from Marston, Oxford, said: "It's just as important, if not more so, that people continue to support United next season and the wrist bands are a great way of doing that."

Loyal bands are on sale at: the Oxford Mail's head office in Osney Mead, Oxford; our district offices in Witney, Banbury and Bicester; United's club shop at the stadium; the Oxford Mail pitch in St Ebbe's; Rose Hill Post Office, Rose Hill; Spar, Dunnock Way, Greater Leys; Box of Delights, Shipton Road, Woodstock; Acorn News, St Nicholas, Littlemore; Delteys, Blackbird Leys Road, Blackbird Leys; Martin's newsagent at the John Radcliffe Hospital; Risinghurst Post Office, Risinghurst; Uno Stores, Cowley.