MORE than £1,000 was raised for Essex Air Ambulance at a popular annual fun day in Brantham.

Student paramedic Alice Randell, 28, organised the fun day for the second time in a bid to raise money and awareness for the service.

Held at Brantham Leisure Centre, in New Village, the event raised £1,060 for the charity, delighting Alice and improving on the £782 raised last year.

The event, held on Saturday, included 25 stalls, children’s entertainers, face painting, crafts, a steam engine and rides.

The air ambulance also found time between call-outs to make an appearance and there was a dog display courtesy of Tailwaggers Dog Club.

Alice said: “The air ambulance was there but only briefly.

“It did a couple of circles around and made as if to land, then flew off on a job.

“I felt it went really well. I had so much support from friends and family who helped get it together.

“I also had a great amount of support from the people who did come along on the day - we raised £260 alone in donations.

“This was a free event so donations were key.

“The turn out and money raised was absolutely fantastic, it increased on last year and we are already planning for next year.

“We will go bigger and better once again.”

Alice thanked the staff at Brantham Leisure Centre for offering their facilities free of charge once more.

The tenacious fundraiser will now look ahead to September 17, when she will join other fundraisers in taking a charity trek through the mountains of Slovenia - tackling 18 to 22 miles per day.

Last year Alice raised £3,700 by trekking through Cambodia