A VILLAGE tradition dreamt up by a competitive drinker decades ago will help kit out a young football team.

Families will gather in Radley for the annual Good Friday walk, where people stride their way to central Oxford and back in hope of bringing home a trophy.

Carina Coppock, who organises the event, said: "It's a part of our history. People are used to it. There's nothing more going on in the village so every Good Friday the families come – people you might not have seen all year."

In 1962, Bowyer Arms punter Jack Parsons bet drinking buddy George Steptoe a pint he could walk to the Carfax Tower the quickest. Which he did.

The pair didn't realise they were paving a route that would be stomped every year since, accumulating more participants as the years went on.

This year the celebration will collect cash for cystic fibrosis charity Leah's Wish, Radley Youth Club and Radley Youth Football Club, which is in need of tracksuits.

Mrs Coppock, 30, took over the event with her friend three years ago after the Oxford Mail revealed its former organisers could not continue.

The part-time cleaner, who grew up in Radley and now lives in Peachcroft in Abingdon, said: "They needed volunteers or else it wouldn't go ahead. Even when I moved I would go back every year for the walk."

She got in touch with former colleague Tracie Guntert, 41, who agreed they couldn't let the beloved tradition fizzle out.

Chef Ms Guntert, who moved to the village five years ago, said: "I work in the pub so I'd heard little stories about it. It's a family day, everyone comes as family.

"People power walk and get very competitive trying to beat their last year's time.

"When Carina phoned me about taking over we thought it was going to be a one-off."

Instead they continued to oversee the event, shaping it into a more family-oriented affair.

Last year 41 people turned up to compete, plus dozens more who came for the after-party, raising a total of £1,200 for Leah's Wish and the youth club.

Ms Guntert added: "For years and years it was just the walk and a presentation. When we did it we wanted it to be better for children and made it into a fun day with a bouncy castle and face painting."

She will bring along her five children, ranging in age from seven-year-old Ruby to 25-year-old Carra, to enjoy cake stalls and live music in an all-day celebration at the Bowyer Arms.

Mrs Coppock thanked local businesses and residents for their donations to the event's 'grand raffle', which include a boat trip and entry to Cotswold Wildlife Park.

Participants will shuffle from the start line at 10am, through Kennington and Abingdon Road, with an alternative 1.5 mile ramble around the village also on offer for children.

The winners of various categories will be awarded trophies for completing the route in the quickest time, which was set last year at one hour and 49 minutes.

Ms Guntert added: "Everyone is welcome, not just people from the village."

Anyone who wants to join in can sign up outside the pub on Friday in Foxborough Road at 9.30am.