A charity best known for organising a town's annual carnival is celebrating 25 years of raising money for good causes.

Banbury Cross Round Table marked its anniversary with a Millennium ball at Godswell House, Bloxham. Some guests travelled from Evian Thonon in France.

The Banbury Cross branch part of the world-wide tablers' organisation was formed in 1975 when the original Banbury Round Table became too large. It was decided that Banbury would be better served by two groups. Since 1975, Banbury Cross Round Table and Banbury Round Table have successfully raised money for the local community.

Banbury's annual carnival is the Round Table's biggest claim to fame. The fun-filled event takes months of preparation, and for Cross members carnival day begins at 6am with the setting up of stalls and the closing of roads in the town centre. Many hours are spent counting the donations given by the public, and carnival chairman Mark Ross thanked the local community and businesses for their generosity. He said: The carnival would not take place and we would not be able to help those in need without sponsorship.