TUCKED away in a village storage depot is a treasure trove of colourful costumes that have been lovingly looked after by volunteers for half a century.

The Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe, which now has a stock of more than 5,000 outfits and accessories, is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary. With everything from Roman togas to 1980s shoulder pads, the collection is a valued resource for local amateur dramatics groups, charities and schools, who can use the costume rental service at reduced rates.

Run entirely by volunteers, the ODW also rents out costumes for fancy dress parties, festivals and weddings.

Treasurer Lynda Hart said the popularity of particular period garb changed and could be impacted by major events, explaining: “There’s been a lot of people wanting First World War costumes in the run up to the centenary and around Christmas time there’s always an increase in people wanting Victorian costumes.”

The collection was started in 1938 by Beatrice Saxon-Snell and her sister Nina.

They created authentic period costumes covering all periods from the Greeks and Romans through to the Edwardian period.

After her sister’s death in the early 1960s, Beatrice Saxon-Snell was joined by Alex Graham, and after her death, the entire collection was left to Mrs Graham. It was following this that in 1968 the Oxfordshire Drama Wardrobe was officially born.

Despite decades being used in hundreds of local productions the group faced the possibility of closure in 2014 due to being unable to pay rent at its Steventon aircraft hangar home. But after a downsize of the collection and a move to a smaller facility at the same Hanney Road site, the group has managed to thrive.

Ms Hart, who started volunteering after a recruitment campaign in 2015, said: “It has had its ups and downs over the years but now we are doing very well.

“We’re solvent, able to maintain the collection and also help out schools and amateur dramatic groups.”

Volunteers and trustees have marked the 50-year milestone by donning 1960s costumes from the collection for a birthday afternoon tea at the Milton House Hotel.

For opening times visit oxondramawardrobe.co.uk or email odwc1938@gmail.com about volunteering.