STAFF from Barclays’ Canary Wharf office took over six Helen & Douglas House charity shops this summer, raising £6,000 for the Oxford hospice.

The Barclays employees were split into six teams to compete to see which shop could raise the most for the East Oxford hospice in a day.

Branches in Summertown, Cowley Road and Headington in Oxford, were among those taken over, along with Henley and branches in Maidenhead and Woodley in Berkshire.

The team at the Woodley shop, near Reading, came first increasing sales by 159 per cent, Henley came second with an increase of 119 per cent and Maidenhead third with an increase of 111 per cent. Money raised across all six shops on May 18 was then matched by Barclays, with a final donation of £6,000.

The event was part of the Helen & Douglas House Retail Challenge, which gives businesses the opportunity to have a team building day and make a difference to families with local terminally ill children and young adults at the same time.

Nicola Wilson, corporate fundraising manager at Helen & Douglas House, thanked all those who took part, adding: “The day was a great fun team building activity but also importantly it raised £6,000 which was amazing. We rely on donations to raise the £5m we need every year.”