The Christmas spirit was certainly alive at this year’s St Margarets Christmas Fair.

Exuberant children raised £4,000 for charity and even a couple of Santa’s reindeers dropped by the fair on Sunday, December 9.

Simon Chapman, from the St Margarets Traders’ Association, said: “For once, the weather was on our side and this helped to draw out the crowds. Feedback suggests that this year’s fair was the best to date.

“More children than ever visited Santa in his grotto and at one point the queues became so large that Santa had to see the children in groups of six.”

Further entertainment for children included a bouncy castle, mega bubble machine and a balloon modeller.

Schools and charities raised more than £4,000 for their causes, with help from local businesses and sponsors.