HUNDREDS have turned out to help raise thousands of pounds for local causes at a tucked away village fete, hidden just a mile from the teeming Botley Road.

The picturesque village of Binsey which is home to just a handful of houses, held its tenth annual village fete this afternoon at the village green.

The event, a highlight in the village’s calendar, was first launched by long-standing resident Peter Lund MBE as a means to raise funds for the local church - St Margaret of Antioch.

Now the stalls, live music, food and drink have all helped to raise more than £30,000 for three Oxford causes - the church at Binsey, Oxford Food Bank and West Oxford Community Primary School.

Speaking at the fete, local resident and musician with The Epstein, as well as one of the driving forces behind the event Olly Wills praised the turnout which saw hundreds out enjoying the sunshine.

He said: “It is now the tenth Binsey Fete, it started off from very little beginnings, but it still nice and small, and a bit naive.

“It is all run by volunteers, probably a team of about 10 or 12 people and we are now up to about £30,000 raised over the last 10 years.

“It could not be any more fetey, it was originally raising funds for the church roof."

He added: “It’s a really nice end to the summer, we used to have it in July but then changed it because July and August are so crammed with other festivals.

“It has become a little bit of a tradition I think for the local schools and its looking really busy today and its still quite early.”

One of the charities who had a stall at the event and will benefit from a donation out of the day’s takings was Oxford Food Bank which collects food from local supermarkets and wholesalers and delivers it for free to over 80 charities in Oxfordshire.

Charity manager Cathy Howard from Didcot said: “We have been taking part in the fete for six years and we recognise the support the people of Binsey give to us.

“It’s also a very fun day out, it’s wonderful to be at a large village event like this.”

She said that the funds raised for the charity were a ‘significant’ contributor to the work the Food Bank does in Oxford.

As part of the afternoon activities there was also hay bales for children to play on, live music, an array of stalls, and food and drink, including a selection courtesy of Binsey pub The Perch.

There was also a traditional tug-of-war as well as tractor rides which were held by the owner of nearby Medley Manor Farm Charles Gee.