CASH-strapped school communities are making money by spending online.

As many Oxfordshire schools struggle to cope with rising costs, some have encouraged parents to do their online shopping via a website called easyfundraising.org.uk.

Schools and charitable organisations can register with the shopping portal and, when visitors click 'support this cause', they can access links to thousands of retailers such as Amazon, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer.

Any items they buy, having accessed shop websites from easyfundraising, will see retailers will make a small donation in return.

More than 30 Oxfordshire schools have created profiles and several have recently reminded parents to shop via the website.

Before Christmas, Appleton CE Primary School near Abingdon posted on its website: "A recent purchase using Booking.com resulted in a £10 donation to the school, so please remember to register and use this easy way of raising funds for Appleton school."

Wallingford School's page has raised almost £900 while Chadlington CE Primary School, near Chipping Norton, has received £980 via the platform.

West Kidlington Primary School and Nursery has received more than £1,072 by using the site, while the running total for John Blandy Primary School in Southmoor stands at more than £1,623.

Lynn Knapp, headteacher of Windmill Primary School in Headington, said the school's PTA started using easyfundraising about two years ago.

She said: "There are more and more pressures [at schools] in actually trying to find money for the basics, so any additional funds we can get is always welcomed - it all adds up.

"There are more and more things we are having to go to the PTA for, even down to resourcing reading books for the library. School budgets are being stretched in all directions."

The headteacher cited staffing costs, the apprenticeship levy and National Insurance payments as key areas of increasing expenditure.

Easyfundraising claims to have raised more than £25m for good causes across the UK, including community groups, schools, sports clubs and charities.

In a blog post about school funding, the organisation stated: "Schools up and down the UK continue to suffer and need more funding than ever.

"easyfundraising can help those looking to fundraise for their school or PTA, as an alternative to traditional methods."