SPOOKS star Hermione Norris opened a popular Dorset village fete this weekend that raised funds close to an organiser's heart.

The Alton Pancras Village Fete was held at Barcombe Grange and raised funds for Brain Tumour Research and the local church.

Chair of the village fete committee Jane Ridgeway was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2012 at the age of 44 and was determined to raise as much as possible for Brain Tumour Research.

Jane and close friend Sally Dangerfield organised the fete and were delighted that the community had come together to help them raise much needed funds for the organisation.

Jane said: "It was a terrible shock to learn that I had a brain tumour and that research into the many different types of brain tumour is so poorly funded – brain tumours receive less than one per cent of national cancer research spending.

"I felt I had to do something to help.

"We know Hermione quite well; our children go to the same school.

"I know she gets asked to do a lot of things so Sally's son, Max, asked her and I don't think she could refuse him.

"The funds from today will be split, with 25 per cent going to Brain Tumour Research and the rest to our beautiful local church."

Crowds gathered to see actress Ms Norris open the fete and cheered as she cut the ribbon and was handed flowers by young Max.

Ms Norris said: "It's a real pleasure to be here today.

"It was little Max Dangerfield who invited me here and when I heard about it from Jane and that it was for Brain Tumour Research I had to come.

"I just think that it is a fantastic cause.

"It is a really beautiful place to have the fete; it's like being on an English film set."

Ms Norris is well known for her role as Ros Myers in Spooks which won her the award for Best Actress at the 2008 ITV3 Crime Thriller Awards.

She is also known for starring in Cold Feet playing Karen Marsden, a middle-class woman who feels trapped by her middle-class lifestyle.

Entertainment was held throughout the day from stalls, a bouncy castle, bubble football, to a dog show and live music.

Charlotte Gerard who was running a bric-a-brac stall at the fete said: "Last year we had Julian Fellowes opening the fete and it absolutely poured down so I am glad the weather is with us today.

"It's for a brilliant cause and I know it will be a great success here today.”