A GROUP of dedicated volunteers are celebrating after their first ever festive fayre was a great success. 

The Friends of Dorchester County Hospital hosted their inaugural Christmas Fayre on Saturday to raise much needed funds for the hospital's new radiotherapy suite. 

There were more than 20 stalls selling jewellery, accessories and children’s toys plus Christmas crafts, cards and homemade cakes dutifully made by volunteers. 

Vice Chair Annette Kent said: "We opened at 10am and it was packed from then on. If fact we had to open early as they were queueing outside."

Approximately 30 volunteers were on hand at the fayre to help with vending and supply parched shoppers with cups of tea and mince pies. 

Further volunteers pitched in to provide an array of homemade crafts and goodies. 

Annette said: "Thanks go to everyone who has helped us and all our volunteers who have donated their time."

Other sellers rented tables, which helped the group cover the costs of the hall rental which ment every single penny made on the day went to the hospital. 

"We wanted to open it up to more local people so they could get a chance to show off their crafts and work and have more on offer for shoppers. We've had such a mixture of different things," said Annette. 

Friends of DCH manager Sharon Merritt said the fayre had been heaving all morning and the 'mountain of cakes' made by volunteers had sold quickly. 

Raffle tickets were also on sale with prizes kindly donated by local craft makers and businesses. 

"It's been really well supported by local people and I can't tell you how lucky I am with the band of volunteers I have at the moment," said Sharon. 

She added it would take some time to calculate exactly how much the fayre raised but she said she thought they had done 'quite well'. 

This year the Friends of DCH have raised more than £7,000 which they hope to make up to £10,000 by the end of the year to go towards a brand new radiotherapy suite.