The future of Great Burstead's historic village church is considerably brighter this week, thanks to revellers at this year's FAB celebration.

Last weekend's Festival at Burstead, at St Mary Magdalene Church on Church Road, once again attracted hundreds of locals for fun in the sun.

More than 1,000 people turned out for the festival's centrepiece, Saturday's craft fair, raising more than £4,000 for a trust fund set up to help preserve the church for future generations.

It was the event's 30th year. There were demonstrations of Scottish and morris dancing, dog displays and a huge range of sideshows and stalls run by church groups.

The festival, which was on the theme of television, was launched the previous evening with a concert by South Woodham Male Voice Choir.

Robin Dickson, chairman of the FAB organising committee, said: "It went extremely well.

''I would like to say a big thank you to all those who worked jolly hard to set up the festival and to all those who supported it."

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