MORRIS dancers, ferret racing, and a best mutt competition ensured a fun day out for a centre aiming to raise awareness of people with special needs.

Loughton Resource Centre, in Torrington Drive, holds a festival every year where its members can help put on stalls and entertainment.

This year proved a big success with entertainment offered all day and more than £1,000 raised to help out the centre.

Centre committee members Carol Byatt said: “It was an absolutely brilliant day. Everyone was on such a high and everybody enjoyed it.

“We wanted to raise awareness of the resource centre, but it’s not just about raising money, it’s about having a good laugh and remembering the people in the community with special needs.”

“I asked my grandson about it and he said it was fantastic and he really loved the children’s entertainer. I’m very much a traditionalist and things like morris dancing are lovely for the children to see.

“We’ll do it again next year and hopefully it’ll be even bigger and better. I hope to spend some of the money getting a marquee to get some of the stalls covered. All the money goes back to the people and the centre.”