LOCAL crime writer Minette Walters has helped a Poundbury based charity put on a thriller of a night by providing the venue for a barn dance.

Minette has offered her lovely thatched barn at Whitcombe as the venue for the Home-Start West Dorset fundraising barn dance.

Staff and volunteers at the charity are thrilled with the offer and say it will be the perfect venue for the event on Saturday, June 6 from 7.30pm.

Senior organiser at Home-Start Helen Horsley said it would help them to build on other successful events.

She said: “After the success of our black tie balls, we’d been thinking for a while about putting on a different kind of social event.

"When Minette kindly offered us the use of her thatched barn in Whitcombe we were really delighted – it’s the picture perfect setting for a summer barn dance.”

Helen added that some people might be familiar with the barn and the event would provide the perfect opportunity to explore it further.

She said: “I’m sure very many people like me have often driven past the barn and admired it, so it’s a great opportunity to actually go inside it and have a proper look, and to have a fun evening as well!”

The Home-Start West Dorset barn dance will include a hog roast and there will be a licenses bar on the night.

Helen added: "We are also proud to have Dorset’s premier ceilidh band Up & Running playing at the event. It promises to be a great night.”

Tickets cost £15 per person including the hog roast and are available from the Home-Start office at Paceycombe House, Paceycombe Way, Poundbury, Dorchester, DT1 3WB.

They can also be bought over the phone on 01305 265072.

Vegetarian options can be arranged in advance if preferred, however due to the nature of the barn Home-Start West Dorset says it is unable to admit under 16s at the event.

For more information about the work of Home-Start West Dorset and how to get involved with the local charity as a volunteer, call 01305 265072 or visit homestartwestdorset.co.uk