A guitar has started an epic journey - beginning and ending in Oxford - to raise cash for aid relief.

More than 50 people have already taken their turn playing 'Jammy' the green electric guitar, as part of an epic round-Britain musical mission.

The Oxjam Great Green Guitar Relay was launched in Broad Street on September 22, at the reopening of the original Oxfam shop. It will return on November 3.

The stunt, which will see Jammy being played by hundreds of professional and amateur musicians will raise money for the Oxford-based charity as part of the Oxjam music festival.

Performances will take place as far away as Cardiff and Glasgow, and at a special Oxjam gig by popular rock band The Kooks in London.

Oxfam's David de Paeztron, who is organising the guitar relay, said: "The guitar is going to various places around the country then finishing back in Oxford.

"We are hoping to have some kind of world music event there to mark the occasion, which will also be the end of Oxjam.

"I made the first baton pass to Kevin Jenkins, who is co-ordinating Oxjam in Oxford, and he had a few people come in and play the guitar in the shop."

About 25 people played the guitar in Oxford - including members of electro/punk/indie act Does it Offend You, Yeah?, who used the guitar during their set at The Oxford Academy last Sunday.

Mr de Paeztron said: "We had a nice, informal start. A couple of people just played it in the street as we were going round with it and there was a good vibe.

"Everyone was very enthusiastic and I particularly liked the fact it was in the Oxfam shop there, it felt like it was connecting us to the reason we are doing all these music events - which is to raise money for Oxfam."

He said he was delighted with the response to the unusual relay race and said a number of people had signed up to sponsor Jammy on its mammoth journey.

Oxjam starts officially tomorrow with a host of events across the country, including a choral concert at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre next Sunday.