MORE than 1,200 people poured past the welcoming team on St Paul’s Hill to enjoy a fun-filled community day.

St Paul’s Church in Fulflood was transformed into a village fête with a host of indoor and outdoor activities. Sarah Elmer got the day off to an energised start with all-age yoga, followed by a beautiful performance from the infants of St Paul’s Pre-school. Florian School of Dance wowed the afternoon crowds with their dance moves.

Live entertainment by groups including St Paul’s Barbers, Shyman and Garflunkel and Boru Beats provided a carnival atmosphere. Inside St Paul’s, local teenager Katie Peller directed the Fulflood Community Strings in a lush programme of popular classics.

Little ones and older children were kept busy with a bouncy castle, splat the rat, chocolate tombola, nail and face painting and a silent disco. Bereweeke resident Julia Hempenstall said, ‘The kids had an amazing time and it was great to see the children running their stalls for friends and neighbours’.

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The BBQ, as ever, proved popular, while in the church a team served homemade soups. Some skilled bakers had spent several days preparing delicious cakes for the big day, making afternoon tea-time a wonderful experience.

Last but not least, pooches of all shapes and sizes had their moment to shine at the dog show.

Bill Lucas, a churchwarden and one of the principal organisers, said: "This has been a brilliant effort and attracted our widest group of visitors yet in all the Community Days we have run".

Many local organisations, including Scouts and local charities Home-Start and Southampton & Winchester Visitors Group, as well as Feed the Minds, Barnabas Aid and Tearfund, were booked in to showcase their initiatives.

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Kay Mitchell, of Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis, said: "It’s great to attend an event so widely supported by the local community. We had people of all ages come and talk to us today".

Rector the Reverend Dr Jonathan Rowe said: "It‘s wonderful for the community to have fun at St Paul‘s. Young and old feeling relaxed and at home in the church. What a lovely day".