A village is hoping to raise plenty of money for good causes as its community fete returns after the pandemic.

The Goodworth Clatford Village Fete is taking place on Bank Holiday Monday, with a variety of activities and events taking place. Jane Drew, who is organising the event, said she has been advised on making the event as safe as possible while also bringing everyone together.

“We’ve taken a lot of advice on whether it should go ahead,” she said, “so we’ve taken plenty of advice but there is an overwhelming desire to get the community back together again.

“Anything we can do towards that, then so much the better.”

The fete regularly raises thousands of pounds for good causes in the local area, having done so for many years – except in 2020.

“It is an annual event, apart from last year which for obvious reasons we didn’t!” Jane said. “It has two main purposes – bringing families together and having fun, as well as raising money for the local church of St Peter’s as well as other groups and charities.

“We have everything from the bellringers and the WI through to the air ambulance and amateur dramatics society, so a lot of community groups are represented.”

Events on offer include hog roasts, magic shows, balloon modelling and a free-to-enter dog show where visitors can have fun with prizes like ‘dog with the waggiest tail’.

The mayor of Test Valley, Councillor Mark Cooper, will also be in attendance to award prizes to children at the fete, with one of the children’s contests seeing whose unpowered boat can win the river race.

The organisers have taken steps to ensure that the event will be Covid-safe, with a number of measures in place.

“We have had to take measures like the track and trace QR code and extra procedures on table tops like antibacterial sprays,” Jane said, “and if people have symptoms, then they should stay away.”

The fete is taking place on Monday, August 30, between 11am and 4:30pm at the village club and grounds in Goodworth Clatford.