Amnesty International members in Abingdon are among the top ten fundraisers in the country, according to its annual report.

The Abingdon branch sent £4,036 to Amnesty headquarters last year -- up more than £500 from the previous year. In addition a further £177 was sent from a house-to-house collection.

Chairman John Killick said much praise was due to the annual Truck music festival at Steventon, and St Helen's Church in Abingdon for their donations.

Mr Killick said another £563 came from a memorial service for founder Abingdon group member Goldy Stafford.

Last year members wrote more than 1,000 letters to foreign governments and took on new campaigns in Russia and Nigeria.

Mr Killick said: "Amnesty has a deserved reputation for accurate information about torture, disappearances, human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience, but it costs money to get it and we are proud to have helped."