YOUNGSTERS came to the fore at a Hythe pub to round off an eight-day extravaganza aimed at raising charity cash and putting The Croft Tavern back at the heart of the community.

Events during the eight-day festival of fun at the Langdown Lawn pub included Cowboys and Indians fancy dress, tug-ofwar and a raffle giving customers the chance to get behind the bar to pull pints and pour spirits for two minutes - and then get to keep the drinks.

But on Sunday it was a children's fun day which figured large in the proceedings, with highlights including a bouncy castle, face painting, hula hoops, drawing and plenty of sweets.

Pub manager Craig Bennett, who with his wife Lynnette moved from North Yorkshire to take over the pub just four weeks ago, said the two chosen charities to benefit from the extravaganza were the RNLI and the special care baby unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Mr Bennett said: "It's been a success as far as we are concerned.

We have seen a lot more families coming to the pub."