WIELDING truncheons and collection buckets, a troupe of policewomen charged through Swindon to support the Charlie Jarvis Cancer Fund.

Four-year-old Charlie, from Greenmeadow, has a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma and needs £60,000 to pay for revolutionary treatment in Texas.

Touched by her plight, more than £54,000 has already poured in thanks to the generosity of Evening Advertiser readers.

Still forging ahead, fundraising events took a fancy dress turn over the weekend.

Members of Havelock and Morley Street Traders' Association donned a host of vibrant costumes in a bid to raise more than £5,000 for the appeal.

George Norcliffe, 55, chairman of HAMSTA, said: "We are more than halfway there because the response has been so brilliant."

Policewomen, doctors, fairies, ghosts and Hawaiian surfers were just some of the roles shop workers played for the day.

Kelly Smith, 16, from Anglian Windows, said her arresting uniform persuaded people to part with their money.

She said: "I adopted the hard sell and jokingly threatened people with my truncheon and handcuffs. It worked a treat."

In transatlantic style, staff at Swindon Travel impressed their customers with colourful national costumes. And waitresses at Gillies caf polished up on their bedside manner with a medical theme.

Besides holding street collections, staff at Havelock News, Sewcraft and the Shaw Trust charity shop also sold books, lollipops and cakes for the charity rally.

Elsewhere the power of music managed to raise more than £800 for the appeal when local rock band Rifft performed at Swindon Rugby Club on Friday night .

Overwhelmed by the response, Charlie's parents, Paul and Samantha also expressed their immense gratitude. Samantha, 31, said: "Everyone is being so wonderful to say thank you seems so inadequate."

The fundraising continues with a pool, darts and pub quiz night at Gangsters pool club in Havelock Square Wednesday night.

Donations can be pledged online at: www.charliejarviscancerfund.co.uk.