ST Thomas-on-The Bourne, a church in action, welcomed many local people from The Bourne community and beyond to their lively annual Christmas market in aid of Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care, enabling a record breaking sum of over £7,000 to be raised in under three hours.

This is an amazing result and is testament not only to the hard work of the volunteer organising team but also the support of local businesses and the generosity of local residents in both giving donations and also attending and enjoying the many opportunities at the market.

The organisers were humbly thrilled with the result which shows that the St Thomas’ Christmas market is growing and attracting many visitors from the community.

A wide variety of stalls were full to bursting with an attractive and colourful array of merchandise, from Christmas wreaths and decorations, legendary jams and preserves, delicious homemade cakes and savouries, ‘as new’ gifts and craft materials to a silent auction and tombola, bric-a-brac, handbags, cushions, handmade wood crafted robins and Santas and beautifully sewn angels and wise men.

Games were laid on for visiting children and the books and toy stalls were very popular as everyone seemed able to bag a bargain.

With the able assistance of two Santander employees, who volunteered to take part helping at the stalls, Santander has promised to contribute a donation to the overall event takings so that a wonderful amount will be presented to the hospice before Christmas.