A KICKSTARTER campaign created to help three Oxfordshire entrepreneurs open a new bar and restaurant has raised nearly £30,000 within a matter of days.

Sam Smith and Robert McGregor, who own the popular off-licence The Keep on Castle Street in Wallingford, have announced their next great venture at a time when those seem almost impossible.

In a much-debated post on Facebook, the two revealed plans to open a modern European bar and restaurant called the Five Little Pigs at 26 St Mary's Street, also in the heart of town.

They will be partnering with Aimee Hunt, an award winning chef and Wallingford resident.

The trio shared their plans and posted a heartfelt message: "We honestly could not think of a better time to start something new in Wallingford as we all emerge from the nightmare that was 2020.

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"We hunger for some sort of return to normality and with this we can all look forward to something really special.

"So please support our Kickstarter and help make 'Five Little Pigs' a reality.

"We do actually need more than our target, but we have got to start somewhere."

Within hours the campaign gathered thousands of pounds and by Tuesday evening, it had reached nearly £30,000 with only 167 backers.

Speaking about what place Five Little Pigs will be, they said: "The name comes from a novel by Agatha Christie, one of the area's most famous ex-residents.

"The restaurant will be serving Modern European food using locally sourced produce in an evolving, seasonal series of menus that will cover brunch, lunch, dinner and gloriously tasty bar snacks."