BISHOPS Cannings Cricket Club is on target to raise more than £20,000 for our Julia's House appeal with a clay pigeon shoot.

Club chairman Ed Davies believes this year's event, at Wellington Barn near Calne on June 3, will raise £40,000 and he has pledged to give half the amount to the Gazette's appeal. The rest of the money will be split between three other charities and cricket club funds.

Mr Davies, who last year was awarded the British Empire Medal for his fundraising and services to village cricket, said: "I heard about the incredible job being done by Julia's House when I went to a fundraiser by the comedian Michael McIntyre.

"Then when we realised that the charity wanted to open a children's hospice in Devizes it made sense for us to do our bit to help. Last year we raised £35,000 and I believe we can top that this year."

Other charities to benefit will be Devizes Opportunity Centre, Ataxia, which supports people with the neurological condition and Myasthenia Gravis research.

A total of 36 teams each made up of five people will take part in the competition which combines a mixture of normal clay pigeon shooting with a number of fun events including trying to hit plastic rabbits and axe throwing.

Mr Davies said: "It is open to people of all standards of shooting. There are no proper prizes but some people are still quite competitive.

"We get a lot of people who come back year after year. They love the beautiful location and we have always been lucky with the weather. We get quite a few farmers and business people."

He wonders if this year he might entice Julia's House supporter and keen shot Guy Ritchie from his Wiltshire estate in the south of the county to take part.

He said: "If he wanted to join us that would be fantastic."

The day starts at 10.30am with breakfast before the shooting begins at about noon.

Mr Davies said: "I keep them going during the afternoon with loads of doughnuts and water. Some people come back just because of the doughnuts.

"A lot of local businesses are very supportive of the event and we are very grateful for that."

A dinner is served early evening and is followed by an auction which last year raised around £17,000.

Mr Davies said: "We have some fantastic money-can't-buy auction lots that go for a lot of money but we also give people the chance to buy gold or silver envelopes. Some of these will be empty but others will have surprise auction items such as a round of golf at Bowood."

He is appealing for more donations to the auction.

He said: "It doesn't matter how small the item is for the envelopes. It all just adds to the fun."

To find out more about entering a team or making a donation go to the Bishops Cannings Cricket Club website www.bishopscanningscricketclub.co.uk