Hundreds of towels, T-shirts and tin openers have been handed over to the homeless, following a winter collection.

Churchgoers in the Wantage area clubbed together to collect four car-loads of donations for Oxford-based projects for homeless people and asylum-seekers.

The Wantage Churches Housing Coalition - made up of members of the area's Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Baptist churches - said it was delighted with the response to the appeal and thanked supporters.

The group carries out annual appeals for organisations working with the homeless, such as the Oxford Night Shelter. Previous collections have included appeals for sandwich-fillers and for gloves, hats and socks. Next winter's appeal could be for pots, pans and clothes.

Group spokesman Maggie Mellersh said: "We had an amazing response from the churches in the area, and want to say 'thank you' to people for supporting local homeless projects.

"Towels and T-shirts are an obvious requirement, and tin openers are one of the basics often needed by people who have previously been homeless but have just found accommodation."