CHURCH bells will ring out today - not to call people to prayer but to come to a charity bazaar.

The Rev Tony Hogg, vicar of West Hanney, near Wantage, came to the rescue of the village's annual bazaar when he heard it could not be held in the village hall because the floor is still damaged from the summer floods.

He has offered St James Church for the event, which has raised more than £35,000 for cancer research over the past 30 years.

The event used to be run by Rene Nobes, who started it by selling runner beans and then raffling a doll, and is now organised by her nieces. One of them, Kath Carter, said: "It has grown massively over the years."

Mr Hogg said: "We were delighted to help as the church furniture can be moved without difficulty.

"I am all in favour of the church being used for good causes like this - and the bellringers will mark the event with a peal to make it more memorable."

The bazaar is today, starting at 10am.