ORGANISERS of a major highlight in the region’s farming calendar have handed over a cheque for almost £3,000 to help children with learning disabilites.

Members of the South West Winter Fair committee presented the money to children from Selworthy Special School, in Taunton, at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, where the annual event is held.

The amount comprised £2,000 from a raffle held at the annual SWWF dinner and awards ceremony and £700 raised on show day by Burnham Rotary Club with a Guess the Weight of the Turkey and Guess the Cowpat Square competitions.

Auctioneers Greenslade Taylor Hunt thank everyone who supported the show and enabled these generous donations.

Committee members felt Selworthy School, a specialist centre for children with learning disabilities, was a very deserving cause.

Plans are already well underway for the 2015 South West Winter Fair which will be held on Monday, November 30, at Sedgemoor Auction Centre, Junction 24.

The South West Winter Fair is the major Christmas Primestock Show for the West Country.

Along with the prestige of winning the South West’s premier fatstock event, the champion of the haltered cattle section receives £1,000, over and above class prizemoney. There is also an additional prize of £500 for the Home Bred Haltered Champion, which could be won by the overall champion, so there is some tremendous prizemoney on offer.

In addition to haltered cattle, there are classes for unhaltered cattle, lambs, pigs, lamb carcases and dressed poultry.