FUNDRAISERS in a West Oxfordshire village are nearing their target as they seek to restore a 150-year-old monument.

The Fountain Memorial in Over Norton, near Chipping Norton, was built in 1864 by the Dawkins family of Over Norton Park estate, but has needed refurbishment since 2011.

Last August five villagers took matters into their own hands and formed the Fountain Project Action Group, raising more than £29,000 of the £32,000 required for work to start.

The group consists of local residents with none more local than 76-year-old Jan Cliffe, who has lived next door to the fountain for 21 years.

She said: "The parish council own the monument but the land all around is my side garden.

"In 2011 we noticed movement at the base of the fountain and collected a lot of signatures to get it fixed, but it would have been very expensive for the council.

"It needed to be saved as it's a historic monument."

The memorial, which stands over the village green fountain, was built by the four children of Colonel Henry Dawkins and his wife Emma, who both died in 1864.

Over Norton Parish Council pledged £10,000 towards the restoration in 2016, but slow progress meant residents formed the group as a Parish Council sub-committee.

The group, which includes Mrs Cliffe, her neighbour Sharn Woodgate, Professor Doug Clelland, Dr Peter Nuttall, and parish councillor Jon Westerman, have spearheaded a rigorous fundraising programme.

They have made Christmas cards, run quiz and curry nights, and hosted afternoon tea at nearby Chastleton House to raise approximately £25,000 since last September.

Organisations such as Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Local History Association have given another £4,500 in grants towards installing an information lectern next to the memorial.

Mrs Cliffe has a passion for local history and believes the project has sparked a similar interest in her fellow villagers.

She said: "There's a public footpath that goes past the fountain so people walk past and ask me about the history."

Although she expects to reach the total by August, Mrs Cliffe admits the celebrations are still on hold.

She said: "We haven't thought about a grand opening yet.

"It would probably be next spring as by then everything will be in place."