WHEN staff at Sainsbury’s in Banbury lost three colleagues to cancer in the space of four months they had to salvage something from tragedy.

Staff at the Oxford Road supermarket lost Stephen Barber, 45, and Patrick Woods, 72, in February. Then Clare McGee, who was in her 40s, passed away last month.

Now staff have named Katharine House Hospice, in Adderbury, which cared for Mr Barber and Miss McGee, as their chosen charity for this year.

They also raised £500 for a memorial bench in the store’s foyer in memory of Mr Barber and Mr Woods.

Sainsbury’s fundraising organiser Christine Cooper said: “It’s something that is fresh in our minds, that’s why we wanted Katharine House as our charity this year.”

Katharine House corporate fundraiser Sheila Norton said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen.”