THOUSANDS of pounds have been dished out to charities in Oxfordshire following a fundraising festival in memory of a teenager who lost her life on a Witney road.

The LibFest team broke its previous records by raising £33,000 from this year's event, donating the cash to a variety of good causes.

Held each summer, LibFest was launched in 2015 to celebrate the life of Liberty Baker – who was killed aged 14 after being hit by a car while walking to school the year before.

Paul Baker, Liberty’s father, said he was again left stunned by the support the event receives in Witney.

He said: “It’s a fantastic amount to have raised – I can’t believe the generosity of people in Witney and beyond.

“LibFest is getting more popular each year and we do get a comfort from it raising money in Liberty’s memory and the fact it is helping people who are disadvantaged.”

Mr Baker commended the work of the LibFest team who organise the event, who he said were continuously full of energy and ideas.

It was that enthusiasm which saw the successful launch of the first LibFest in 2015, a celebration of the life of Liberty as well as a means of raising funds for charity and promoting road safety.

In its first year the event raised £8,500, topping that in 2016 by raising £25,500.

This year’s total of £33,000 meant the team could offer cheques of £11,000 to its three chosen charities: Yellow Submarine, an Oxfordshire-based organisation which supports people with learning disabilities and autism; The Teenage and Young Adults Cancer Fund based at the Churchill Hospital in Headington; and Oxford-based child bereavement charity SeeSaw, which is selected each year.

Faye Carrick of the LibFest team said: “To be giving £11,000 to each charity is just absolutely phenomenal – and we know from speaking to the charities what a huge difference it makes.

“I think all that comes from people having a clear driving force. Liberty is definitely in the hearts of the people of Witney.”

She thanked businesses in the town, both small and large, and the council for their continued support of the event.

Martin and Tina Bull, of Witney, are the parents of Ryan Bull, who died last year aged 20 following a battle with cancer. Mr Bull, who attended the same school as Liberty, was helped by the teenage and young adults cancer services at the Churchill Hospital, which relies on donations from the public.

Mrs Bull said: “It’s fantastic that the LibFest team put the fund forward as one of its charities this year as it relies solely on funding from the public.

“Every penny will make such a difference.”

Liberty Baker died after being hit by a car driven by Robert Blackwell in Curbridge Road. She was on her way to Henry Box School.

Blackwell was later jailed after admitting causing her death by dangerous driving.

Mr and Mrs Baker, along with friends and family, will take on the Oxford Half Marathon to raise extra money for the cause.