THE sun shone and great fun was had at the first Wessex Country Fair for Salisbury Hospice in Wilton at the weekend.

TV star Joanna Lumley was the guest of honour, and the mayor of Wilton Phil Matthews and Salisbury MP John Glen also went along show their support for the fundraiser, which was held at Wilton House on Saturday.

Sara Morley, chief executive of the Salisbury Hospice Charity, said: “It was a lovely day and the atmosphere was amazing. We had such good feedback and people were all saying it was like a good, old-fashioned country fair.

“Joanna Lumley was very gracious and posed for photographs with everyone who asked. Our volunteers worked very hard and everyone was incredibly supportive.

“We are hoping to build on it for next year.”

The event included lots of steam locomotives, many of which were on their way back home from the nearby Dorset Steam Fair, Percheron racing horses, a dog display team and many activities for children to enjoy.

And the Rotary Club of Wilton organised the parking.

The winner of the charity’s Christmas card competition, who will see her design feature on the front of this year’s hospice cards, was seven-year-old Nicole Wynn, a pupil at Wyndham Park Infant School.

It was the first year the hospice had held the major event and organisers hope to run a similar day next year.