HUNDREDS of people visited Palace House, Beaulieu for an early dose of festive fun as Fiona, Lady Montagu hosted her annual Christmas fair.

The occasion is rapidly becoming one of the most successful fundraising events in the area.

Last year's fair raised £13,500 and this year's event is likely to have been even more successful.

Lady Montagu said: "I bullied all my friends into donating great raffle prizes - and some people rang up asking for 100 books of tickets."

Proceeds will go to the Beaulieu-based Countryside Education Trust,

which teaches urban children about rural life.

The Palace House event is among the first Christmas fairs to be held in the Forest.