A SERIES of lectures have been praised a success after more than £6,000 was raised for Itchen Valley Churches.

The Martyr Worthy Lecture Series began in November and was supported by over 450 people.

It was the second series of its kind and included talks with Douglas Skeggs on ‘A History of the Medici’, John Davies on ‘The Manor Houses of England’ and the Countess of Carnarvon on ‘Highclere: The Real Downton Abbey’.

In total £6,603 was raised and a third group of lectures is now being planned for November 2016 with possible subjects including the ‘Dutch Golden Age’ and ‘A Tale of Two Cities, Oxford and Cambridge’.

In an online statement Revd Alex Peas thanked everyone involved for their help throughout the series.

Itchen Valley Churches includes St Mary’s in Easton, St Mary’s in Avington, St John the Baptist in Itchen Abbas and St Swithun’s in Martyr Worthy.