A NOVEL charity project selling wooden crosses that went "viral" in Blackbird Leys and beyond last year has returned for Christian Aid Week 2016.

Andy Pledge, the churchwarden at the of the Church of the Holy Family, had never worked with wood before in his life until the idea came to him in a dream.

In a matter of weeks he had constructed scores of wooden crosses that, when swapped for donations, ended up raising about £250 for the anti-poverty organisation.

He said: "Last time it went a bit crazy. I told a few friends, then the church and the Oxford Mail, then it went on Facebook and I was getting orders from Europe and America.

"The way it went viral was amazing; I had expected to sell about a dozen and was a bit overwhelmed; I thought 'My goodness, am I going to be able to do this?'."

Shortly before embarking on the project Mr Pledge, 42, had a dream in which he was making holding crosses and putting them into the back of a Christian Aid van.

He said: "I never, ever remember my dreams but I could see it and smell it and feel it. I woke up and knew what I had to do."

With the help of fellow churchgoer Russell Price, Mr Pledge set up a fully-equipped workshop at the church in Cuddesdon Way, rolled up his sleeves and got started.

He said: "I found it very relaxing and therapeutic. I was listening to music all the time and prayed over each one."

Requests came pouring in with people donating an amount of their choice, in some cases up to £20, for a miniature cross of their own.

A few last year were made from olive wood imported from Israel, but more affordable mahogany off-cuts are being used by Mr Pledge this year.

He said: "I just cut them out, sand them down, paint them with acrylic and varnish them. It takes about an hour-and-a-half to make each one.

"Last year was absolutely brilliant. It was awesome. I've got to wrap it up at some point but I wouldn't mind raising £500 this year."

More than 20,000 churches will hold fundraising activities for this year's Christian Aid Week, which runs from Sunday, May 15 to Saturday, May 21.

All proceeds raised go to the international charity, which works to eradicate poverty and its effects in 50 countries around the world.

For more information or to order a cross from Mr Pledge, email pledge.andrew@googlemail.com