Forty-five staff from charities and help and awareness groups were padlocked together for a one-off event called ‘I’m a Volunteer, Get Me Out of Here.’

But the direct action was all in jest, and hundreds of shoppers took part in guessing which key fitted which padlock.

More than 200 people had a go, and their names will now go in a prize draw later this week.

Saturday’s event was organised by Newbury Volunteer Bureau and the vinvolved team and raised £339.

NVB spokesman Garry Poulson said: “It was beyond our expectation, and people poured in from start to finish, with many making some nice and interesting comments.”

The prize draw saw Bartlemy Road resident Mr Francis Wood win a family membership to Living Rainforest, while Mrs Gladwell of Coppice Close won a luggage set, Jane Vaidya of Donnington won beauty products, and Christine Freeman, of Gwyn Close, won a set of towels.

The event kicked off National Volunteering Week in the area, and the groups hope to get more people signed up to community projects.

Meanwhile, to celebrate National Volunteer Week, Newbury’s Community Furniture Project held a barbeque, with croquet, garden jenga and impromptu karaoke last Friday to say a big thank you to its volunteers who give up their time and share their skills.

Local taxi firm, Broadway Cars, helped the summer barbecue to go smoothly by providing a minibus to transport volunteers from Newbury to Inkpen and back.

The total time given by volunteers to support the Project last year equalled over 160 hours each week.

As well as superb food, featured among the entertainments on offer at the barbecue.

The Community Furniture Project (Newbury) is a local charity that takes donated household goods, electrical equipment and toys and provides them to people in need at low cost.

To contact the Community Furniture Project (Newbury) about the work they do, or to make a furniture donation, please telephone (01635) 43933, or call in to Unit 5, 36 Queens Road, Newbury RG14 7NE – open Monday to Thursday from 9.30am to 4pm (closed for lunch 12.30-1pm).