A fabulous night of dancing and good food in a 15th-century barn festooned with bunting and fairy lights raised more than £3,000 for family support charity Home-Start Winchester.

The beautiful Pinglestone Barn in Old Alresford was the perfect backdrop and revellers got into the spirit with cowboy hats, boots, checked shirts and fringed waistcoats.

A hearty hog roast was laid on by Sole Butchers of Alresford and the charity’s fundraising team served up a spread of salads to go with it as well as puddings of every kind for afters.

From the moment the Craigievar Ceilidh Band struck their first chord, 120 guests were on the dancefloor and were loathe to leave the party at the end of the evening. 

Events team chairman Chrissie Barlow welcomed the special guest – Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, the deputy mayor of Winchester – and thanked the event sponsors from Bill Rawles Classic Cars, who arrived in a pair of spotless Austin Healey classic cars.

Special thanks went to Lord and Lady Wakeham, who loaned the barn for the night – Alison Wakeham is one of Home-Start Winchester’s patrons.

Chrissie Barlow, who is also a trustee of the charity, said: “I am so proud of our events team, who have worked hard to make this evening a success. We have already been asked when the next one will be.

“We are increasingly reliant on donations from supporters, sponsorship from local businesses and our own fundraising to support our work, and must raise over 90 per cent of our annual income every year.

“This was a joyous occasion with people of every age on the dance floor, making all the hard work worthwhile.”