THIS year's successful Herefordshire Country Fair has enabled the committee to make donations totalling £12,000 to local charities.

"We are particularly pleased to be able to make the largest donation to St Michael's Hospice, in memory of our late chairman Ronnie Mills," said fair secretary David Probert.

"Although Ronnie made it to the fair, his illness deteriorated soon after, and he spent some time in the hospice before he died in early September."

Major Patrick Darling, owner of the Caradoc estate, where the fair has enjoyed two successful years, has been elected as chairman.

"We are delighted to be able to show the supporters of the show that they are not only getting a good day out but contributing to these worthy causes as well," he said.

The other charities to benefit include the Charles Renton Appeal, the Haven Breast Cancer Trust and the Air Ambulance.

"As one of my first duties as new chairman, I would like to thank our generous sponsors and all the committee and their helpers for the tremendously hard work they put in.

"In the final analysis, however, it is the visitors to the fair that are important and I extend a warm welcome to them at Caradoc next year."

Next year's fair is on Sunday, August 5, at Caradoc, near Ross-on-Wye.