IT'S a special day of the year when you can be naughty for a very good cause.

Thousands of people indulged their sweet tooth in Winchester on Saturday (March 9) for the annual Colossal Cake Sale in aid of Help for Heroes.

Around 2,000 cakes were donated this year, more than ever before, while pubs, shops and businesses in Alresford and Winchester chipped in to provide raffle prizes.

Organiser Sarah Walker said: “Everyone has been so supportive and we have had 65 raffle prizes donated by local businesses which is just fantastic. “We've had a very enthusiastic band of nearly 30 volunteers who have helped set everything up and sell the cakes. We just want to raise as much money as we can for our blokes fighting for us. They will have injuries that affect them now and injuries that stay with them for life so we should do all we can.”

Cakes, biscuits, scones, jams and much more were sold in the Brooks Shopping Centre and St Maurice's Covert off the High Street.

The final total raised is still unknown but Mrs Walker said they aimed to raise £3,500, the same as last year's total.

The event was opened by Mayor of Winchester Frank Pearson alongside army veteran Simon Harmer, of Kings Worthy, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan in 2009.

They were also joined by Steve Brine and George Hollingbery, MPs for Winchester and the Meon Valley respectively.