CHURCH goers pulled an all-nighter in the pews with 24-hour hymn humming to raise cash for roof repairs.

Congregation members at St Swithun's Church in Kennington hosted the 'hymnathon' from 9am on Saturday until the same hour on Sunday, singing £1,650 worth of sponsored songs which will help pay for a new roof on the church hall.

Roger Dennett, who lived in the village for 44 years before moving to Abingdon, was among a group of six who stayed for the entirety.

The 73-year-old said: "We didn't stop, only to eat. I didn't really feel tired - it was more fun. It was lovely to meet new families to the village who had not been to the church. "At 3.30am I wasn't expecting to have an audience for my solo but I did. There were a few of us who can't sing - we called ourselves the Kennington Toneless Singers."

Mr Dennett, who completed two other hymnathons for the church in decades past, said its roof had already been "extensively refurbished" through damp coursing and guttering - leaving only the flat kitchen hall roof in a shabby state.

He added: "We hope to get a modern roof which should last 20 to 30 years and we hope to press the button on that shortly. We have the Apple Cafe there run by volunteers who use that kitchen. We want to make sure we have got quality facilities. There is an important link between the old church and the new church. It is absolutely important to keep it up."

Mr Dennett, who went straight to Sunday service afterwards, was joined by wife Mary and fellow couples Brian and Isobel Baggott and Nick and Helen Horn.

Organ player Mr Horn, 45, said: "The only challenging bit was when I got more tired and the timing of my hands and feet got more complicated.

"It wasn't creepy at all, even through the night. It was very fun and friendly. I raised £300 by being there for 24 hours - be it asleep on the back benches or on the organ."

Among those belting out the tunes was 90-year-old Sylvia Rivers, the eldest ever choir member.

The Poplar Grove resident, who remembers the hall in its original state where she married her late husband Albert, said: "We have got a wonderful lot in the village who keep things going. I have lived in Kennington all my life and I ran the choir until I was 80.

"There are a lot of happy memories for me in the church. I got married to Albert with my four bridesmaids, my sister and three schoolfriends. Two of them are also in their 90s and we still go out together in the village and to church.

"I sang for about three hours but couldn't stay as long as I used to."

Mr Dennett said the new roof does not need planning permission and was confident that Gift Aid and late sponsorship will bring them to their £2,000 target.