Newbury Stitch Fair raises more than £2,000 for disability charity

A textiles fair debut has raised more than £2,000 for a learning disability charity.

The Newbury Stitch Fair – a first for the town – raised nearly £2,500 for West Berkshire Mencap, a charity which supports people with a learning disability.

There were workshops for everyone at the event at the Kennet Shopping centre.

These included reading dress patterns through to how to make a zippy bag by Mark Francis, who was a quarter finalist in the Great British Sewing Bee.

Stalls included Geoff Rosenberg dress fabrics through to knitting wools and haberdashery.

The Stitch Fair was the inspiration of Marion Scott-Baker, a keen and experienced sewer.

She said: “The event shows that there is a huge demand for developing your dressmaking skills and making your own clothes.

“I hope that the event will develop and put Newbury on the map as a major crafting town.”

West Berkshire Mencap chief executive Sara Vaughan said: “We are very grateful to Marion for her inspiration and dedication to run this popular event, and for raising much-needed funds for West Berkshire Mencap.”