ACTOR Martin Clunes is holding a country fair at his West Dorset home to help charities.

The star is throwing the Buckham Fair on his 20-acre property near Beaminster for good causes as he is swamped by so many requests for help.

His first event was a small horse and dog show last year but that has grown to a fully-fledged fair this year at Buckham Down on August 23.

Mr Clunes, who is holding the fair with wife Philippa, said: “It started in a small style last year when we dipped our toes in, in aid of Riding for the Disabled.

“Even before we bought these fields when we saw they were for sale I thought what a great place to have Buckham Fair.

“They are so beautiful you can see across Beaminster and out to sea.”

The idea is not only to have a horse, pony and dog show but to have a fun fair at the same time and choose a different good cause every year.

Mr Clunes said: “We will do it for a different local charity every year.

“This year we are going much bigger – we have still got the dog and pony show but we have a fun fair too.

“Palmers are laying on a beer tent and there’s a bucking bronco.”

Mr Clunes added: “Hopefully it will grow and grow each year.

“I get approached by an awful lot of local charities and I simply cannot do everything.

“I also have one or two national charities but I hate saying no, I genuinely hate saying no, just because there is no such thing as an undeserving or bad charity.

“So this seemed a really good way of raising a lot of money and having a lot of fun and easing my guilt.”

The fair is in aid of the Dorset children’s hospice Julia’s House.

Mr Clunes, a horse and dog lover who has a horse called Chester, praised the hard-working group that has been taking care of the details of the show and the Beaminster businesses who have been so generous with their sponsorship.