THIS year's Stoke Abbott Street Fair enjoyed a record turnout as the traditional event raised money for charity and a local church.

More than 800 people lined the streets of the village to enjoy entertainment, children's activities, bargain-hunting and home-cooked goodies from stalls - and to soak up the carnival atmosphere and join in the traditional Sick Club Parade.

Co-ordinator Catherine Leech, said: "This year's street fair was an amazing team effort from virtually the entire village from our bunting-making evenings last winter to the last of the clearing up on Sunday.

"It just goes to show what you can achieve when everyone pulls together.

"This is our main fundraising event each year and it looks as if we will break the record with funds going to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance as well as our own village hall and St Mary's Church."

The Rex Trevett Big Band, Wylde Morris dancers and roving musician, Mitch Norman, were all a huge hit and the children’s games garden was packed throughout the day. Highlights included the ever-popular slippery horse and fancy dress parade to the village water source, where Rev’d Jo Neary conducted a traditional well blessing ceremony.

The queues for the Stoke Abbott Street Fair’s legendary cream teas snaked around the courtyard outside the village hall and the dog show, along with skittles and a coconut shy, at the New Inn, ensured a buzz of activity throughout the event.

Vic and Celia Rus have grown and sold items at the village's plant stall for the last 15 years. This year was the couple's final event, with organisers thanking them for their 'huge contribution' to the street fair.

Stoke Abbott’s 'fairy Godmother', Anna Zee, was on hand to sprinkle some magic dust over proceedings and, as last year, Stoke Abbott’s Kerry Gould created the beautiful backdrop to the village water source for the well blessing ceremony.

Next year's Stoke Abbott Street Fair will take place on Saturday, July 16, 2016.