IT may not be the most comfortable way to spend an afternoon, but Julian Laverty’s bath of beans got plenty of attention.

Mr Laverty, a care assistant at the Highfield Unit at the Warneford Hospital, Morrell Avenue, Oxford was helping raise money for a new sensory room at the unit on Saturday.

While Mr Laverty sat in the bath of baked beans, fellow care assistants Emily Kamal-Smith and Gwen Jenkins provided other entertainment including a human fruit machine and other bizarre activities.

Miss Jenkins said: “It was brilliant.

“We haven’t counted the money yet, but it went really well, it was a really fun day.”

They want to create a room with lights, aromatherapy, sounds, tactile toys and other sensory items for the 11 to 18 year olds who use the unit.

It provides in-patient care for young people with mental health problems.

Miss Kamal-Smith said: “I think we got a lot of public interest and involvement, lots of people took part in the human fruit machine and a lot of people were fascinated by the bath of beans.

“We were terrified it was going to rain and had lots of plastic sheets ready, but in the end, we actually got a bit sunburned.”

It will cost about £5,000 to equip the room.

  • To contribute, visit justgiving.com/HighfieldFundraisingDay