TABLES TURNED -- AND CAPTAIN BIRDSEYE LENDS A HAND

Branch volunteers raised £251 at Witney Market in mid-April - and shrugged off the table being blown from under them.

A stiff breeze made conditions a little tricky all day and when the table went over for a second time one of the wooden supports was badly damaged.

Though Tim Hayes and sister Step patched it up it was clear the end was nigh and fellow volunteer John Makeham. who lives near the market, came up trumps with a replacement table he happened to have.

Chair Dave Thompson said: "It was a breezy sort of a day but we came out with excellent funds - and a new table. The old one had survived five years since its earlier life indoors as a surface for pasting wallpaper at ex-chair Denis Pope's home in Faringdon."

An extra boost came from none other than Captain Birdseye, another of the knitted items crafted by supporter Helen Benton. Complete with pipe, the captain made £10 and along with other sea creatures added a total of £40 on the day.

Said Dave: "Captain Birdseye was knitted complete with pipe in mouth and drew much interest both at the stall and our AGM earlier in the week. He's being missed already."

Takings for the year are edging towards £2K with next up a stall outside Tesco in Abingdon on May 19 and Blenheim Palace on June 28/29.