A HUGE selection of presents have been donated to help abused women, following a fundraising day in Poole town centre.

The Safer Poole Partnership event, held at Poole's Kingland Square to raise funds for the BCHA's Women's Refuge, will also benefit the refuge's outreach service and children.

BCHA campaigns manager Paul Tucker said: "We are extremely grateful to Safer Poole Partnership for putting on this event and to the members of the public who so generously donated.

"The response was overwhelming and the presents will be hugely appreciated by the children in our women's refuge in Poole.

"Christmas can be an incredibly difficult time for women and children but through people’s generosity, we can help provide some joy through small gifts and support them through the festive period in the knowledge that this year they are safe and not living with fear, intimidation and violence."

The event, held in a vacant retail unit, also managed to raise £1,541 via stalls inside the shop, which included a candy floss stand and photobooth, plus face painting, glitter tattoos and a large cake sale.

Outside there was live music and performances all day, including performances from the Sounds of Soul choir and opera singer Deborah Fennella.

Rhianon Greenslade, from Safer Poole Partnership, said: "We had such a wonderful reception from the shoppers in Poole.

"We are so grateful for everyone's donations, and for everyone who visited the shop which in turn raised awareness of domestic abuse and helped us reach out to hundreds of people.

"A massive thank you goes to the local businesses and organisations who gave their time and resources for free to make this event a huge success. We will definitely be back next year."

All money raised from the event, which took place on November 26 in partnership with Soroptimist International, Poole's Women’s Institute, the Borough of Poole, Dorset Police and Stand and Matter, will be split between local domestic abuse support services.

These services are the BCHA women's refuge, Dorset Rape Crisis, and The Purple Teardrop campaign.