Witches and ghouls helped raise nearly £1,000 for charity in Dartmouth last Saturday.

The Children’s Hospice South West Halloween Fair in The Old Market included craft stalls, children’s fancy dress competition and eerie monster balloon sculpting by Dartmouth’s Town Crier Lez Ellis.

CHSW volunteer Sue Tweed said: “The fair helped raise the impressive sum of £973.85 for the charity. This was only £107 less than last year when more people attended.

Especially noticeable were fewer children for the fancy dress competition but the brave few ventured out, and two prizes were awarded for the most scary Halloween outfits by Town Crier Lez Ellis and his wife Liz.

“Unfortunately, the Dashing Devon Dukes children’s ukulele band were unable to be there as their leader had flu.

“Our thanks to everyone who helped us to raise this wonderful amount of money for Children’s Hospice South West, especially all our brilliant stallholders who sold such wonderful crafts and desirables, and all the generous buyers and donors who supported us.”

The proceeds will help provide essential specialist care and support for more than 500 South West families with life-limited children. Children’s Hospice South West is the only children’s hospice in the South West, now with three hospices, where the care offered is not simply about medical and nursing care for sick children, but about enriching the lives of the children and their families.

It costs around £11 million to run each year, relying almost entirely on voluntary contributions.

Dartmouth & District Friends Group organises events locally to raise money and awareness for this vital charity.

Sue added: “Volunteers are always welcome - any help, if just a cake for an event, is much appreciated.”

To volunteer contact Sue Tweed on 01803 770730 or [email protected] or see more at www.chsw.org.uk

The Group’s next event is a Christmas Fair in The Old Market on

Saturday December 4, from 10am to 3pm. Stalls are still available at present.