HUNGRY revellers at Oxfordshire's Truck Festival helped raise more than £70,000 for good causes.

The event, held at Hill Farm Steventon, in July, was among the most successful yet. Not only did it see stand-out performances by the likes of Gaz Coombes, George Ezra and Jake Bugg, but it also helped fund a string of good causes – many of them local.

Much of the cash raised at the festival's 21st anniversary event came through the sale of food and drink in the Feel Good Food Tent. Cash was also raised through donations by guests.

Money has gone to a wealth of organisations including The Batemans Trust, Blue Skye Thinking, Downs Syndrome Association, The Lewy Body Society, Parkinsons, The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Didcot, Faringdon and Witney Rotary Club branches, Royal Welsh Guards Charity, St Richards Hospice, Steventon Toddlers and Pre School, St Blaise Community Project, St Michaels and All Angels Church in Steventon, Teenage Mental Health and Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

It's a very different story to last year's event, which was mired in mud and complaints over poor organisation.

Oxford Mail:

Farmer Alan Binning owns the Hill Farm site and allows its use for the festival on the condition that Didcot Rotary Club, of which he is a member, can raise money from the sale of refreshments. Numerous other good causes also serve up food and drink, many in the Feel Good Food Tent.

When Truck 2017 squelched to a messy, muddy halt he complained that charities had been sidelined and had seen their takings plummet.

This year however he welcomed an improved layout and praised revellers for supporting the volunteer caterers.

Mr Binning's son Richard said: “Truck was a huge success this year.

"Festival-goers had a brilliant time and a great deal of money was raised for charity along the way.

"The charity food hall, staffed by volunteers, raised more than £60,000 for Parkinsons UK, Teenage Mental Health and Wiltshire Air Ambulance. In addition, Truck Festival has donated to various charities, including Steventon Church Bell Fund, Steventon Darby and Joan Club, Riding for the Disabled and the Farming Community Network.

"The fundraising which is made possible by Truck is one of the things we most value about the festival, and we hope that it is pleasing not only to the charities, but to our local neighbours.”

This year’s sum brings the total raised for charity at Truck in the past five years to about £250,000.

Truck Festival Organiser Conor Burns said: “This year was the best Truck we’ve ever had and to raise money for great causes while doing it, is the icing on the cake.

"We’re full steam ahead for next year and we’ll hopefully have some exciting lineup news soon.”

Oxford Mail:

Truck Festival farmer Alan Binning