FAMILIES had a cracker of a day when they took part in a wide variety of festive fun in Devizes on Saturday to raise money for Julia's House.

The event organised by Graham Mitchell chairman of the charity's Devizes Friends Group included entertainment, side shows and craft events.

Mr Mitchell said: "The Christmas Cracker event at Braeside went well and provided a variety of attractions, including performances from choirs from St.Joseph's school in Devizes and North Bradley school from Trowbridge.

"Fantasy FM and Light & Sound of Devizes kindly provided equipment for the children's disco, and there was Santa's Grotto, face painting, local merchandise stalls and a family craft table for making Christmas cards and decorations, all of which were enjoyed by parents and children alike.

"Devizes Rotary kindly provided the hot food catering which was a great success, as were the mince pies donated by Greggs."

The afternoon raised just over £800 that will go to the newly opened children's hospice at Browfort, Devizes which provides care for children with a wide variety of health problems and disabilities.

Mr Mitchell said: "Given that there were many other similar events that day in and around Devizes the attendance was reasonably good, and we raised a total of just over £800 for the Children's Hospice, which was a testament to the hard work of the volunteers from the Julia's House Devizes Friends Group both on the day and in the months leading up to the event."

Among the attractions was Rolo a Jack Russell terrier who arrived with his author owner Debi Evans who makes her pooch the star of her books.