PRIZE cash won by a community cafe will help customers enjoy al fresco refreshments.

Great Western Park Community Café in Didcot was hailed at an awards ceremony and bestowed with £100 for trumping competitors in the 'best new community group' category.

The cafe plans to use its winnings from the Business and Community Awards to put towards the price of outdoor furniture.

Claire Hann, who set up the child-friendly centre just over a year ago, said: "We are so pleased to receive this award and I'm very grateful to the volunteers and customers for their support. Without them the cafe wouldn't have been recognised in this way."

The mum-of-two was among the first residents to move into Great Western Park five years ago and wanted to provide a place where new neighbours could connect.

Emma East of Didcot First, which runs the event, said: "We are delighted the independent category judges chose the community café to receive an award, which recognises them for their hard work and dedication to the local community."

The cafe opens every Thursday morning and provides a place for families to relax and children to play, and is staffed entirely by volunteers.

Any profits made are reinvested into community projects such as the GWP Summer Activities Week.

The eight annual awards ceremony took place at the Cornerstone in Didcot on November 18.