A community quilting group have raised over two thousand pounds for charity on their fifteenth anniversary fair.

Eype Schoolroom Quilters raised a total of £2,509.19 for West Dorset Motor Neurone Disease.

Diana Harvey, co-organiser of the event, said: “This whole process has been an emotional and busy two years, but rewarding.”

The biennial fayre was last held in 2019 and was unable to be held in 2021 due to the pandemic.

Bridport Round Table donated £1,000, plus an initial donation that helped get the project off the ground.

Diana said: “Obviously West Dorset MND are thrilled as for a local charity this is a huge amount.

"We could not have done this without the support of the community: particularly the wonderful support of Bridport Round Table with their donation of £1,000.”

The church looked spectacular with the displays and the West Dorset Motor Neurone Association quilt was displayed as the star of the show”.

Diana Harvey said the whole group were overjoyed by the turnout and said: “We were particularly thrilled by the amount raised as in this difficult economic time.

A further £503.48 was collected from donations, the sale of cream teas, cakes refreshments and percentages of sales from Dorset Patchworks as well as items made and donated by the group and the same amount was donated back to Friends of St Peters Church for the upkeep of the church.

One of the founder members of the group, Diana Davis, passed away in 2017 as a result of motor neurone disease and a quilt was made by the group in memory of her and raffled off to raise money.

Diana Davis’s son Ben said: “It is very touching that mum was the inspiration, it brought a tear to all our eyes but in a good way.

“Mum loved her quilting and really enjoyed going to the quilting group, I believe her friendships at the group helped her through the difficult time when dad was poorly.”

The quilt was made to be similar to one Diana began making for her daughter that was later finished by members of the group when she could no longer sew.