BUSINESS leaders enlisted the help of youngsters to raise money in memory of a colleague who died last month.

The children – and two donkeys – took part in a nativity scene in Abingdon’s Market Place on Saturday to bring some festive cheer to shoppers.

The event was organised by Abingdon-on-Thames Chamber of Commerce and raised £100 for the African Children’s Fund.

It chose the charity to honour fund founder and former chamber treasurer Peter Tyrer, who died in a car crash in Kenya last month.

Chamber president Paul Townsend said: “Peter gave up 20 years of his life for the chamber and was always doing things around town, so we thought we would do it for him. He was a one off.

“It has been a really good day. The town centre is buzzing again.”

Members of Dunmore Pre-School, pictured right, were also at the event to raise cash to replace their building, which is “slowly falling apart”.

Pre-school assistant Michelle Wiley, 38, of Longmead, said: “We think we have raised about £250 so we are really, really pleased.”