IT looked like it might be a washout, but the clouds parted just in time for Cheriton Church Fete.

Come rain or shine, organisers were determined to push ahead, even if they did not have the kindest weather for setting up their stalls.

The Old Rectory in the village provided the scenic backdrop for the event, with a host of attractions in the pretty gardens.

Hundreds of people poured through the gates on Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (May 7) as showers turned to sunshine.

Organiser Penny Scott said: “We were going to go ahead even if it rained because people know that even if the weather is bad, the fete in Cheriton will still take place.”

She added that new attractions for 2012 included a human fruit machine and also the ‘water or wine’ stall.

The latter was being manned by Tim Butcher from Cheriton. Several bottles were wrapped in paper on the stall, and for a £2 stake, visitors could either walk off with a bottle of wine, or tap water.

“I would say you have about a one in five chance of winning,” he said.

Amongst the villagers enjoying the fete were Sarah Gill and Ben Grantham along with Rebecca Scallan.

She said: “Some of the things on the jewellery stall are lovely, and we’ve also won a bottle of port as well.”

Mr Grantham said: “We’ve been to watch the Punch and Judy show, which I think can be a bit scary for a few of the children sometimes.”

Other attractions included face painting, welly throwing, cream teas, splat the rat, bowling, tombola, music and a raffle.

There were also stalls teeming with books, cakes, plants, toys, and bric a brac, and a challenge to hit tennis balls into barrels and buckets.

At the end of the afternoon prizes were awarded by Bob Barrett, who plays Dr Sacha Levy in Holby City.

Depending on the weather, the fete usually raises between £3,000 and £5,000, but this year's proceeds topped the £5,000 mark.

More than 600 paying guests also passed through the turnstiles, in addition to the children who went free, and dozens of stallholders.