A FETE and novelty dog show at Lifton earlier this year were a resounding success and raised £1,650 — the majority going towards the village's new community centre.

There had been no fete held in the village for a number of years, but the offer of the use of a marquee was too good an opportunity to miss for organisers, headed by Elizabeth White and Emma Durrant.

Elizabeth said: 'When I heard that Lifton Hall Hotel were having a barn dance in a marquee that was going to sit empty for most of the weekend, I thought it would be an ideal chance to organise a village fete.'

Organisers, also including Jan Wood, Liz Armstrong, Amanda Greenhalgh and Richard Elworthy, arranged activities in a number of sites around the village, including the school field, church hall, Arundell Arms and Lifton Hall hotels.

A popular event was the tug of war that saw local businesses competing against each other. It was sponsored by Ambrosia Creamery and the champions were a team from Mole Valley Farmers.  

The novelty dog show was well attended by many of Lifton's canine community members and their owners. A highlight was the 'Dog that looks most like its owner' class, that was won by Binky and his owner Paul Lawrence, with Toffee and Larraine Cruse second.

The organisers expressed thanks to local businesses and individuals who donated prizes, sponsored parts of the weekend and turned out to support the events.

The date of Lifton's next fete and fun day is Saturday August 13 2011, with the novelty dog show on the Sunday.