A CLOTHES sale that won royal backing has raised a whopping £23,000 for the Petersfield branch of a national charity.

Save the Children supporters are on target to raise £40,000 in 2013 thanks to the huge success of their 50th big sale at the Festival Hall.

There was huge public interest in this year's event as The Princess Royal attended a pre-sale show at the hall on April 18.

This year's show was the first to run over three days and the format is likely to be retained by organisers given the impressive takings.

Pauline Kneen, chairman of the Petersfield branch of Save the Children, has been quick to praise to the "magnificent team" of volunteers that made the sale possible.

She said: "We have about 180 volunteers and helpers and without them this achievement would not have been possible.

"We are grateful to the volunteers that dedicate their time and to residents for their ongoing generosity. We thank them for all their hard work."

The Petersfield branch of the children's charity is the second most profitable in the country and raised more than £40,000 last year. But members want to smash that target during this milestone year and have now focused their attention on another major fundraising event.

The group will hold its annual Saturday antique auction on June 1 at John Nicholson Auctioneers in Fernhurst, West Sussex.

Bidding starts at 9.30am with viewings taking place the day before from 10am to 8pm at the Auction Rooms at Longfield on Midhurst Road in the village.

A bridge lunch will also take place at the Tithe Barn in Ditcham on September 23 ahead of a gift fair at the Festival Hall on November 14.