Two women from south Bucks attended Royal Ascot - an event famous for daring and high-end fashion - wearing outfits costing less than £50.

Unbeknown to onlookers at the event earlier this summer, the women had picked up their stunning outfits at a ‘50/50’ charity sale in aid of South Bucks Hospice, who support patients with life-limiting or threatening illnesses.

The 50/50 sale is run twice a year by Barbara Pickersgill from her home. Various local woman donate unwanted items from their wardrobe to the sale, as half of the proceeds from purchased items go to the Hospice and the other half goes to the donor, however the donors almost always donate their share of the money too.

Vonnie, from Flackwell Heath, wore a patterned black, yellow and white coat she had bought from Barbara’s sale in May. Kati-Ann, from Beaconsfield, showcased a black and white dress she had found at the same charity event. Both outfits costing less than £50.

Pickersgill said the woman: “looked absolutely amazing, and I think people would have been surprised to find the clothes they were wearing had come from a charity sale.”

Barbara has raised thousands of pounds for patients with life-limiting conditions by running this event. £2,000 alone was raised at the event in May.

Even unsold items are put to good use as they are passed on to the hospice’s shops at Bourne End and Hazlemere.

Barbara said: “More and more people are donating clothes to me, and they love the fact that by doing so, they are helping the hospice.

“A lot of women buy an outfit for one occasion and then never wear it again. There has been a lot in the media about upcycling clothes that would normally be thrown away, and it’s lovely to show it works.”

If you would like to attend one of Barbara’s 50/50 sales, or find out how to help the hospice by running one, email barbarapickersgill427@gmail.com.