LADY Lansdowne and the team at Bowood have been busy preparing the house for its three-day Christmas Extravaganza event, which launched with a preview last night.

One thousand visitors are expected to peruse high-quality items from more than 40 traders at the luxury pop-up shopping event, which runs until Friday evening, in aid of the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust.

The extravaganza has raised £25,000 for the trust, which helps vulnerable people feel safe in their own homes, over the last four years and the team at Bowood House hope that the total amount continues to climb.

"We are hoping to raise another £10,000 this year," Lady Lansdowne, who is a vice-patron of the trust, said. "I think it is a wonderful charity because it helps vulnerable people feel safe again. It is especially interesting as the charity has evolved in recent years to help victims of domestic abuse and cyber crime."

Since meeting Jennie Shaw, the director of the trust, at her dog show eight or nine years ago, Lady Lansdowne has been a key patron for the trust which needs approximately £170,000 per year to continue running.

In previous years, the extravaganza has been attended by the Duchess of Cornwall and other special guests and choirs from John Bentley School and St Margaret's Preparatory School, Calne will be keeping the guests entertained in the family chapel.

"We have got a huge range of traders this year and about 60 per cent of them are new," Lady Lansdowne added. "Some of our old favourites are back here but for a lot of them we wanted new traders to keep it exciting. My shop is also stuffed full of Christmas things and my girls will be on hand to help men and lost husbands with personal shopping which was pretty successful last year.

"Our guests also have the opportunity to see Bowood at Christmas time. We have just put up our 18ft tree and I have put together a small table in the laboratory this year so that people can see what our family Christmas will look like."

Although the silver and white rose themed table is for display purposes only, the Lansdownes will be having their Christmas dinner surrounded by family at the house on Christmas Eve following the annual carol service at the chapel.

Bowood House will be open for the Christmas extravaganza event on Thursday from 10am-7pm and Friday from 7am-3pm, with tickets costing £6 in advance or £8 on the day. For more information visit www.bowood.org/events.