They cycled the length of Britain and parachuted from an aeroplane - and now Oxfordshire's Girl Guides have nearly paid for a new activity centre.

More than £400,000 has been raised to replace their existing county activity and residential centre in Stanton St John.

Almost every one of the 7,000 Rainbows, Brownies, Girl Guides and adult leaders involved in Girlguiding from across the county have taken part in the fundraising drive and are close to reaching their final total.

Building work should be completed by the summer and the Guides are now fundraising to pay for furnishings and adding finishing touches to their new home.

Youngsters have raked in the sponsorship cash by braving the cold and dark in midnight ice skating, got their fingers dirty taking part in sunflower growing competitions and went quackers messing about on the river organising duck races. The Trust of Oxfordshire's Environment also gave £15,000 to pay for a new sewage system.

Sue Moss, divisional commissioner for Oxford City II, and her husband Andrew boosted the fundraising coffers with a sponsored bike ride from Land's End to John O'Groats while Girlguiding Adult Leader Kate Eales completed a parachute jump.

Sue Bisson, county commissioner for Girlguiding Oxfordshire, said: "Everyone has worked so hard to raise such a huge amount and had great fun doing so. It shows how Guides can work together to meet a challenge."

When work is completed, the new Jubilee House will be used by all members of Girlguiding in Oxfordshire and other members from outside the county.

The centre will provide a base for residential events, activity days and training and also be used for events by the local community. It will have dormitories, activity rooms and meeting rooms.

The Guides' former pre-fab centre had to be demolished in December after reaching the end of its 25-year lifespan.

A 'Jazz in the Garden' event will take place at Chalgrove Manor on June 16.