KEEN gardeners Ann and Carl Gross have raised more than £10,000 for charity - thanks to generous customers at their fruit and vegetable stall on Deddington farmers market.

Most of the money has gone to help vulnerable children in Thailand, where the couple have helped fund an orphanage and schools for disabled children.

Now, the charity has given the green-fingered duo a "thank you" plaque to display on their stall.

The plaque was presented to them by the Crown Princess of Thailand Mahachakri Sirindhorn when Mr and Mrs Gross visited the country recently.

They said: "The credit for this goes to the people who support us by buying our vegetables every market day. People will often say 'keep the change' because they know the money is for a good cause."

Mr and Mrs Gross, of Holliers Crescent, Middle Barton, have been trading at the market since it began in 2001. They grow their crops on an acre of land near their home, and spend up to 20 hours a week on the plot.

Mr Gross said: "We were one of the 11 original stallholders at Deddington market. To start with, the money raised went to local charities, and some still does - but 95 per cent of it goes to Thailand."

The couple, who have been married for 40 years, met in Libya when Mr Gross was a teacher there, and Mrs Gross was a ballet dancer and part of a touring show.

The "thank you" plaque was given by the Redemptionist Vocational School for the Disabled in the Thai town of Pattaya.

The school is one part of a charitable project, The Father Ray Foundation, which includes an orphanage, homes for deaf and blind children, a street kids project, and a home for youngsters with HIV.

It was founded more than 30 years ago by American priest Father Ray Brennan, who became a Redemptionist missionary and was posted to Thailand.

Mr Gross said: "After visiting the country we felt compelled to help the poor children there.

"We believe every child should have a home, medical supplies, and an education. With a little effort from everyone this can be achieved."

For 14 years they have sponsored Thai orphans, and spend three weeks every year in Thailand visiting the charity, and meeting the children they have helped to support.

Mr Gross said: "This year we went to the street children's drop-in centre and were amazed to find murals on the walls painted by pupils from Banbury's Blessed George Napier School.

"Four girls from the school went to Thailand in 2004 to spend a week decorating the building."