A CHRISTMAS fair has raised £35,000 for an army charity at this year’s early event.

The Early, Early Christmas Fair, held at Tedworth House in Tidworth, is one of the main fundraising events for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity in Wiltshire.

With about 90 stallholders, the fair gives people an early opportunity to tick some presents off their Christmas list.

It started as a low-key affair in the late 1980s but this year’s event saw record numbers of more than 1,400 through the doors on September 25.

Captain Dave Henson of the Royal Engineers, who was injured last year, and his new wife Hayley opened the event. They were married at St Mary’s Church in Tidworth the Saturday after the fair and ABF lent them the marquees from the fair to have their reception in.

Organiser Caroline Cary said: “I would like to thank everyone who came and supported this event – our dedicated volunteers, all the shoppers who never forget they are helping a charity, hard-working stallholders and everyone involved, without whom this could never take place with the success it currently enjoys.”

Next year’s fair is already planned for September 24 so put it in your diaries.