More than 1,500 shoppers helped make this year’s Ashford Pilgrims Hospice Christmas fair a blinding success – raising more than £15,000 for the charity.

The annual festive fair was held at the Norton Knatchbull School, in Hythe Road, Ashford on Saturday, with stalls selling everything from mince pies to jewellery.

Father Christmas was in his grotto, lending an ear to excited children ready to reel off their Christmas wish list.

And visitors listened to Christmas songs sung by the Kingsnorth School Choir.

This year’s fair had triple the number of visitors and raised three times as much money as last year.

In total, £15,743 was raised, although this number is expected to rise as raffle tickets are still on sale.

Full story and more pictures in this Thursday's Kentish Express.