MORE than 1,500 people are believed to have turned out for a summer fete held in aid of a charity based near Ringwood.

The Stable Family Home Trust’s annual event aims to raise money and awareness of the good cause’s work, which offers alternative care, day services, and support for people with special needs and learning disabilities.

There was a host of attractions, at their base in Bisterne, including cream teas, music, dance and drama, a plant sale, stalls and bouncy slide.

It also offered the opportunity for visitors to look around the beautiful grounds, gardens and vegetable patches of the main two buildings and to enjoy the peace and quiet of its surroundings.

Jan Miles, chief executive of the Stable Family Home Trust, said this year’s event was probably the biggest the charity has ever held.

She said: “It’s not just about raising money, but also raising the profile of what we do here at the Stables, and our mission has always been to help people with learning disabilities to live extraordinary lives.

“We have about 50 volunteers who work with 110 service users.

“Additionally, we have three residential homes in Bournemouth, and we also work to support people in their own homes.

“We always get a good crowd at these kind of events and normally, we expect around 1,000 people, but I think this year, we’ve probably got about half of that amount on top of the usual number.”

The charity is continually looking for volunteers to assist their work. For information, contact Stable Family Home Trust, on 01425 478043.