Families living on Oxford's Barton estate who struggle to afford a holiday have the chance to see the seaside this summer.

Thanks to the hard work of resident Sue Holden, families on the estate will be able to feel the sand under their feet at Bournemouth and Southsea for just £4-a-head.

Teenagers can enjoy the thrills and spills of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park for an all-in £25, and younger children can enjoy a day out at Gulliver's Land theme park, in Milton Keynes.

The trips have been made possible thanks to subsidies totalling £1,000 from Barton Community Association and the Oxford Citizens' Housing Association.

Mrs Holden, who has organised cheap trips for the community for three years, said it was important people on the estate had an opportunity to get out of Oxford.

She said: "Last year we were oversubscribed. We could have done the trips twice over. There are lots of people on the estate who are really looking forward to it, it has become an annual ritual.

"It enables people to go to places they would not otherwise get the chance to go to. Living in Oxford, we're quite a distance from a seaside resort, and it's surprising the number of youngsters who haven't seen the seaside before they go on a trip.

"I think it's part of growing up to spend time at the seaside as a family. With the lifestyles we lead these days, family life sometimes falls by the wayside so this is a great opportunity for them to spend time together."

"Regardless of how low your income is, everyone can find £4 to get a coach."

Caroline Harris, 44, of Burchester Avenue, is going on the trips with her seven children and two grand- children.

Mrs Harris, who took advantage of the cheap trips last year, said they were a fantastic opportunity for the family to do something together.

This year she and her daughters Catherine, nine, Amie, 11, Emma, 15, Leeann, 16, Kayley, 17, Nicola, 25, and grandchildren Khane, seven, and Celesha, two, are all going to Bournemouth and Southsea together.

Mrs Harris said: "We love going on them. They're so reasonably priced that I can afford to take all the family.

"I think it's a great opportunity for the community of Barton to go on these trips and a wonderful opportunity to spend time together as a family, which is really important."