THE taste of the Orient came to Northlew last Saturday, as Northlew Toddler Group held a Chinese evening fundraiser.

Around 40 guests came to the Victory Hall for the event, which raised much needed funds for the group.

Twenty-six different Chinese dishes were prepared by Yan Ping Bright, a native of the Hu Nan province in China, with the help of some of the toddler group mothers.

Dishes varied from fish ball soup to spicy minced pork with green beans. It was a great opportunity to sample authentic Chinese food and to try something new.

The event was sold out, with all 40 tickets being snapped up before it was even advertised.

Northlew Toddler Group has around 12 toddlers attending each week and with an impressive £448.55 raised, will be able to buy new toys and supplies for the group.

The group's chairperson, Gemma Dufty, said: 'I am delighted with the success of the evening and hopefully this is the first of many more for the group.

'A great night was had by all and the toddler group would like to express their thanks to everyone who helped, from the pork chop crusaders, food donators and all the guests for a truly unforgettable evening.'

The group's next fundraiser will be their Christmas shopping evening on the November 29. There will be a variety of home-made craft and cake stalls in Northlew Victory Hall.

The toddler group meets in Victory Hall each Wednesday from 10am to noon, and has a variety of toys and crafts always on offer.

New toddlers are always welcome to the group.

To find out more call Gemma on 07813 153814 or follow the Northlew Toddler Group on Facebook.