A SNOW-THEMED fundraiser for a charity supporting local families proved a resounding success.

The Snowflake Play Day held at the Dorchester Community Nursery School saw children enjoy an afternoon of fun and games for a good cause.

The event was held to raise funds for Home-Start West Dorset, which is based in Poundbury and supports families with young children.

The snow-based games included making Playdough snowmen, decorating snowmen, drawing snowy pictures and much more.

There was also a special visit from Mayor of Dorchester Tim Harries and mayoress Anita Harries, who had taken on her own snowy-themed fundraiser for the charity.

Anita spent 24-hours dressed as a snowman to raise funds for Home-Start and was spotted out and about in the town, going to the gym and other daily tasks.

In total she raised around £250 for the charity, smashing her £200 cause.

Anita donned the snowman outfit again for the Snowflake Play Day as she came to hand over the funds.

The event itself also raised a further £100 for Home-Start and trustee of the charity Stella Jones said Anita's snowman fundraiser and the interested generated by it had certainly helped boost the Play Day event.

She said: "It was successful and that was largely because of what Anita did. She did so well."

Home-Start West Dorset's aim is to enable parents to give their under fives the best possible start in life.

It works across West Dorset, Weymouth and Portland, providing support for families facing a range of difficulties through its unique home-visiting volunteer scheme, which matches trained parents and grandparents with families in need of a helping hand.

The charity's next major fundraiser is a Spring Barn Dance at Ashton Barn in Martinstown on Saturday, May 20.

For more information about the charity and how to get involved visit homestartwestdorset.co.uk or phone 01305 265072.