FATHER Christmas helped raise more than £1,000 for Aldworth Science College on Saturday.

The community office at the college, based in Western Way, South Ham, Basingstoke, organised a Christmas craft fair in a bid to raise some much-needed cash.

Traditional stalls mixed with Santa, his helpers and some rather unusually dressed men.

Members of The Hounds of the Morrigan - a Basingstoke-based British battle re-enactment society - were on hand to entertain and inform.

The crew were dressed in historic battle costume and gave performances throughout the fair.

By the end of Saturday afternoon, organisers were pleased with the generosity of all the people who had visited.

The money raised will be used to buy equipment for people who use the college out of hours for community events.

As well as more than 60 craft stalls, there were raffles and tombolas, and Father Christmas was there in his grotto.

Doreen Crowther, from the college's community office, said: "The fair was a great success - we raised lots of money."