More than £1,500 was raised at an annual clay pigeon shoot for a charity set up in memory of a Stanmore schoolgirl who died of a brain tumour.

Ali's Dream was set up by the family of seven-year-old Alison Phelan, who attended St Josephs in Belmont, to fund brain tumour research.

Ali’s Dream Clay Pigeon Shoot, which was first held in 2002, raised £1,541 with last year's winners Whaddon Wind Ups retaining their title.

Sue Farrington Smith, organiser and charity trustee, said: "This popular event is always great fun, it was great to see so many of our loyal supporters who turn up year after year joined by so many newcomers.

"One team even came down from Scotland to join us.

"We are ever grateful for the loyal support of the ‘guns’ and beaters of Padbury Hill Farm’s shoot syndicate who offer up their time to provide instruction. We couldn’t put this event on without them.

"Everyone seemed to have a great time, whilst supporting vital research into childhood brain tumours at the University of Portsmouth."

Roger Jaworski and his team fiercely defended their winners shield for the fourth year running hitting 140 out of 200. Runners up were Quainton based The Hoofers, who hit hit 136.

Geoff French of North Harrow and his team The French Connection reclaimed victory having narrowly missed it last year and were once again winners of the novice team trophy for the fourth time since the competition began.

They hit 104 clays out of 200, narrowly beating Bedford based John Olphin’s team The Pheasant Pluckers, who hit 102.

Quainton resident David Osborne of The Hoofers retained his Top Gun title hitting 41 clays out of 50.

He was also determined to win the pool shoot and, having tied with Frank Bates of Simon Says, won in a shoot-out hitting nine out of 10.

While his son Max was delighted to win £50 on the sweepstake, for guessing the closest to 1,116 which was the total of number of clays hit between the 52 guns.

Top novice, hitting 35, was Laurie Clift, of Harrow, whose brother Barrie had won it last year.

Palmer’s Quality Butchers, of Bletchley, provided a breakfast of bacon and sausages in rolls.

Other sponsors included Padbury Meats, Clear Edge and Castlenau Wine Agency. Karl’s Bakery, SeaHawk Trophies and R & K Stockcraft provided generous discounts.

The money raised will go towards sustaining research at the Alison Phelan memorial lab at the University of Portsmouth’s Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence and get research another step closer to finding a cure.

The centre was established by Ali’s Dream in collaboration with Charlie’s Challenge and Brain Tumour Research in July 2010 and in 2012 was extended with the launch of the Alison Phelan memorial lab.

Ms Farrington Smith added: "No parent should lose their child and no child should lose their parent – brain tumours kill more children and adults under 40 than any other cancer and we won’t stop until we find a cure."