FORMER Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and her son joined hundreds of toddlers dressed as pirates to raise money for charity.

The swimmer and television presenter, accompanied by her youngest son, Finley, three, started off this year’s Barnardo’s Big Toddle around Burford’s Cotswold Wildlife Park and walked the course alongside more than 500 youngsters and their parents.

She said: “I’ve been to Barnardo’s Big Toddle before and it’s always a fun day out. It’s great to see the children come away with their medals, full of pride and, most importantly, with an understanding of the children they have been raising money for.

“It is so simple but it makes a huge difference to the children and families that Barnardo’s supports.”

As well as the sponsored toddle, activities including children’s entertainment were laid on by the organisers.

Last year, children in Oxfordshire raised £10,000 towards the charity’s early years work, which includes services for young children with physical and learning disabilities, autism and behavioural problems.

It will be a few weeks before the amount raised on Thursday is collected, but Jacqueline Woodward, from Barnardo’s, said they were hoping to break last year’s record.

She said: “It was a fantastic turnout and the best one we have had yet.

“The weather helped, but having Sharron was a bit of a draw too.

“The venue is ideal because people can do the toddle then make a day of it, and it was absolutely brilliant.”

The Big Toddle has been running for 12 years, and the Cotswold Wildlife Park has been been taking part for five.

As well as families and carers bringing along their little ones to toddle around the course, a number of nurseries and pre-schools made the event a day out.

Miss Woodward said: “It just seems to be building year on year, going on word of mouth, and it has just snowballed really, which is good news for Barnardo’s and the families we support.”

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