A family fun day in aid of the victims of the Oxford Eastern Bypass crash was hailed a massive success by organisers.

More than 300 people turned out for the event at the Cowley Community Centre in Oxford yesterday where there was a bouncy castle, face painting, and a barbecue during the day, as well as a pool competition and a disco in the evening.

Jamie Byles Jamie Byles, whose step brother Marshall Haynes died in the crash, took part in a 12-hour darts marathon and thought that over £1,000 might have been raised.

The 19-year-old, from Dashwood Road, in Rose Hill, had collected £500 of sponsorship before the marathon began and said the pot was being added to regularly, as each person he beat had to add to it.

Jamie, who is a county league player, said: "I'm impressed -- I can't believe the time's gone this quick, but it's because everyone else has turned up."

He added: "I'm not tired -- but I will be tired because I've got a league match later."

The money raised will go towards buying kit and a trophy for a Marshall Haynes memorial football match, to be played every May -- when the Eastern Bypass tragedy occurred -- for the next three years.

Proceeds will also be split between the families of the four victims of the crash - Liam Hastings, Marshall Haynes, Josh Bartlett, and Oxford Brookes student Howard Hillsdon -- as well as adding to the fund for a memorial garden at Peers Technical College.

Dwain Haynes, Marshall's father, said he felt humbled by the excellent turnout, and added: "It's not about the money, it is about how much all the kids were loved and how many people they touched. It shows how much they were loved."

Organiser Bob Campbell, who was manning the barbecue alongside crash survivor Aiden Wood, 13, said: "It's been a very good day, a very good turnout. We didn't realise it was going to be this big. We got all the food this morning, and we're running out already."

He added: "This is not only for the people who were hurt by the crash -- it has affected everybody.

"Every parent here has thought 'that could have been my child'."

A second fun day is planned for Sunday, August 28, at the Bullnose Morris pub in Blackbird Leys.