ACTOR Martin Clunes is urging West Dorset residents to hold a tea party and buy some care time for a life-limited family.

Time For Tea is back for the second-year running and this time it marks the 10th anniversary of Dorset children’s charity Julia’s House.

West Dorset resident and Doc Martin star Martin Clunes, who is a patron for Dorset’s only children’s hospice, is once again throwing his weight behind the fundraising drive.

Friends, family, villages, businesses, communities and clubs are invited to get together and help raise pots of cash for the cause.

Garden parties, cake bakes, tea breaks or just a few friends getting together for a cuppa – Time for Tea is a very social way to support Julia’s House.

Fundraiser Sue Miles is urging residents to get involved and make this year’s fundraising drive bigger than ever.

She said: “Last year Time For Tea raised enough money to pay for more than 450 hours of care for local children. It would be wonderful to try and beat that.”

She added: “We had people from all over the country, not just Dorset, raising money for us last year.”

The campaign is once again being sponsored by Dorset Tea who are also providing recipe cards and a voucher for a free pack of tea for everyone who pledges to hold a party.

The charity launched the event last year and it proved so popular it is now set to become an annual event.

Time for Tea will be officially launched in Wimborne Square on Saturday, June 7 and will then run throughout the summer, giving people the chance to organise some outdoor events.

Wimborne Square will be buzzing with activity including a tea dance, live music, cake decorating demos and other ‘have a go’ stands.

There will also be all day refreshments available thanks to the support of local restaurants and cafes.

To register for your Time For Tea fundraising pack, please email timefortea@juliashouse.org. The pack contains everything you need from invites to fundraising tips and tea.

Ms Miles added: “Just add hot water and friends.”