LAUNTON is a little village making a big difference when it comes to the fight against cancer And fundraisers are giving themselves a big pat on the back after raising £16,000 for charity in just one year.

The community near Bicester have proved neighbourly spirit is alive and well with a host of events and activities all in the name of Cancer Research UK.

The latest bumper year brings their grand fundraising total to within reach of £200,000, raised over three decades.

Events were all organised by the close-knit Launton Friends of Cancer Research, made up of local residents.

Organiser Rosemarie Stubbings said: “We have had so many events over the past year, it has been a real community effort. We had a wonderful fashion show, a big village dance and everyone has been involved.

“For a small village, raising this amount of money is unbelievable”

The small group has been collecting money for charity since 1979.

If they raise just £7,000 in the next year, they will hit a grand total of £200,000.

In the past year alone, they have had coffee mornings, soup days, garden parties and a knitathon.

The knitathon, which raised £680, also led to a renaissance in knitting in the village and three bags of knitted items were donated to the Veterans Aid Society last week.

Villagers also collect money at the Tesco stores in Bicester and Brackley.

Mrs Stubbings said: “We’re a village, but we’re a very, very active village.

“We find people want to get involved and they want to support things.

“I think cancer is something that has touched everyone’s lives in some way or another, so it’s something that touches people’s hearts.”

A cheque for the money will be presented to representatives of Cancer Research on Thursday, March 22.

Cancer Research spokesman Helen Johnstone said: “In these hard times it is amazing to see our supporters are still finding ways to raise lots of money.

“And £16,000 is fantastic, especially from such a small village.”