ALTON Community Centre’s annual festive event – the Christmas Cracker – more than lived up to its name.

Although the pre-Christmas event was in competition with the town’s Yuletide Festival it attracted a large crowd of visitors, which is no surprise as there were more than 40 stalls selling everything from jewellery and crafts to preserves and cakes.

With Miranda Thompson-Webb as the co-ordinator, the staff “worked their socks off” to provide a day of fun. As visitors arrived they received a free glass of mulled wine and if they bought a raffle ticket for the hamper they also got a free mince pie.

The children had fun making decorations with Mrs Claus and her elves and they also got the chance to post a letter to Santa.

One of the highlights was the huge hamper raffle prize packed with all kinds of goodies and which was won by Maureen Fry.

Thanks to some generous visitors the centre raised £930, which will go toward funding its many services.