A VILLAGE craft group have been busy preparing for a fundraising festive event.

Winfrith Newburgh’s Crafty friends have been making items for the Christmas Craft Fair at Winfrith Village Hall this Sunday.

The event, which runs from noon to 4pm, with free entry, will raise funds for the planned refurbishment of the village hall. The craft group has only been running for a year but has proved so popular, meetings have been doubled to twice a month, and with the craft fair approaching these sessions are now weekly.

Crafty Friends’ co-chair Lyn Pullen said: “As this is our first go at a Craft Fair, I have been very impressed with how the members of the group have not only shown incredible creativity but have got on with making item upon item – we were up to 414 at the last count, and we only started in September.

“I shared some crazy patchwork techniques with them at one point, and now we’ve got lots of Christmas cards using this method, which are wonderfully colourful and each is totally unique.

“They have also come up with some gorgeous Christmas decorations.

“We have been lucky in what our members have been able to contribute. One had some sari fabric brought back from India, and that has been made into some very opulent cushions. With all the embroidery and beading on them they will make someone a very special present.

“We’ve also got enough scarves to kit out a football team – as long as they didn’t have to match and they didn’t mind ruffles!”

Some non-group members will also be having tables at the fair, which will offer jewellery, glass, bee products and even wooden bunting.

For more information visit winfrithscraftyfriends.wordpress.com or call 01305 853946 after noon.