THEY came, partied, and now donated – a Hampshire festival is celebrating raising the largest sum for charity in its history.

The organisers behind BoomTown Fair, which was held at Matterley Bowl near Winchester in August, say it has raised over £55,000 for local and national charities.

The event was held in August and attracted 38,000 revellers, all of whom were asked to donate £2 with the price of a ticket.

That raised £6,734, and was matched by organisers resulting in £13,468 going towards the £55,202 total.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance received £5,414, Oxfam £35,000 and the 2013 Christmas Charity CD raised £1,320 for Home-Start Winchester.

Street Reach Winchester, Joe Glover Trust and Winchester and District Young Carers (WYCP) will all get £4,000 each, and the remaining £1,468 will be donated to Itchen Abbas and Avington Village Hall, Twyford Parish Council and Titchborne St Andrews.

A WYCP spokesperson said: “That is amazing! Four thousand pounds will make a huge difference to the lives of young carers and their families we work with. The money will enable us to continue with our weekly support groups that provide the young people with a safe place for them to share their thoughts feelings, needs and concerns. A big thank you everyone who donated, it is much appreciated.”

Jackie Porter, Street Reach chairman, said: “This donation will enable us to keep our activities open for young people, especially our popular Friday football at Henry Beaufort school, which opens 50 weeks of the year.”

Jane Wilmshurst, fundraising and events manager at Joe Glover Trust, said they are delighted with the donation.

“This will help us continue to provide much needed support to children and young people, who have been diagnosed with cancer, and their families who are facing a very difficult journey ahead,” she said.

BoomTown directors, Lak Mitchell and Chris Rutherford, say they aim to make the festival an event the whole of Winchester can be proud of.

They said: “One of the most important ways in which we get involved locally is by supporting local charities and projects that benefit as many of the regions residents as possible. As our completely independent event grows, so does the scope for further investment and fundraising support within the area.”

BoomTown is taking applications for next year’s charity partners.