The sixth annual Ermington May Fair was held last Saturday, raising more than £800 for the village’s preschool.

Held in the hall and playground of Ermington Primary School, the fair was described by one of the organisers as “the best ever” and “an old-fashioned village day out”.

The afternoon featured lots of games, including ‘beat the goalie’, a lucky dip and a bouncy castle, as well as a stalls, a bar, a barbecue and a raffle.

Kathy Toms, chair of the Ermington Preschool Committee said: “We had a fantastic day, and we can’t quite believe how lucky we were with the weather – the first spots of rain were just beginning as we packed away the last gazebo.

“The bouncy castle was full all day, and the game stalls did a roaring trade, while the grown-ups relaxed with a barbecue, Pimms and cake. We also had pony rides and an ice cream van, which were hugely popular!”

Kathy continued: “This was probably our best year ever. We raised over £800, all of which will be invested in resources for the children at Ermington Preschool. This year we particularly hope to continue improving our outside areas, hopefully with a climbing frame as well as continuing to invest in our Ermington Explorers group, which aims to build the children’s confidence by exploring a wide range of natural environments.

“As a small rural preschool, nearly all our funding for resources comes from our own efforts, with Devon County Council and fees just covering our overhead and staffing costs.

“As always, the event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our parents and friends,” Kathy continued. “We received some fabulous donations from the local community towards our raffle – including a hamper from Countryman’s Choice Farm Shop, as well as generous donations from A Salon Called Fish, Theatre Royal Plymouth, Woodlands Leisure Park, Princess Theatre in Torquay, The Eden Project and The Garden House at Buckland Monachorum.

“It’s with their help and the support of the community that we are able to offer such a fantastic head start for children in and around Ermington.

Ermington Preschool is already taking bookings for September and places are filling up fast. If you’d like any more information or if you’d like to visit the preschool, please contact their manager, Sarah Thurley on [email protected].