A HUGELY successful Stogumber Open Gardens event made a record breaking profit of about £14,000 this year.

Several hundred people visited across the weekend from as far away as South Devon, Cornwall, and the North West of England.

More than 100 volunteers worked to stage the largest event in Stogumber’s calendar, spread across 20 or more locations and attracting about 500 visitors.

Half of the funds raised will enable the parochial church council to carry out essential regular maintenance and minor repairs on St Mary the Virgin Church.

The other half of the money will be shared with the Children’s Hospice South West and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance charities.

A spokesperson said: “This is thanks to the team doing the fabulous food in the village hall, at home making all those tasty dishes, and doing the mountains of washing-up.

“The gardeners whose wondrous creations attracted people making return visits.

“The car park stewards and ticket sellers welcoming and guiding hundreds of visitors, and coping with some people’s eccentric car-parking manoeuvres.

“The bric a brac and plant stalls which greatly added to the enjoyment of visitors and to the funds raised, and the art exhibition showcasing local talents.

“The people doing publicity, putting-up banners and posters that brought people to us, and putting up the shelter outside the village hall.

“All who gave generously their time, money, bric a brac, and plants, and the White Horse Inn for letting us use the skittle alley for free.”

The spokesperson said the National Churches Trust estimated the backlog for repairs to church buildings belonging to the Church of England alone stood at least £1 billion.

They said: “So, it is good news that we raised so much this year and that we can continue the good work of previous generations.”