VILLAGERS and schoolchildren were out in force enjoying themselves in the beautiful weekend sunshine at a variety of fun-filled events.

More than £1,100 was raised at Norman Gate School Fete. Hundreds of pupils, parents, grandparents and residents turned out and helped raise money so that every classroom will have a CD player and the school can buy a DVD player.

Children enjoyed themselves on the bouncy castle and everyone tucked into the barbecue.

This year's Stockbridge Carnival, meanwhile, has been declared the 'best ever' - with the money raised totalling £2,000.

Crowds lined Stockbridge's High Street to see the procession of floats, one of the highlights being the Carnival Queen accompanied by her princesses. Shops and business windows in Stockbridge High Street were decorated with balloons for the occasion.

Chairman Dave Watts said: "This is the largest carnival we've ever held. I'd like to thank everyone involved, especially the traders in the High Street for their support."

Professional belly dancers, limbo dancers and sumo wrestlers all played a part in the after show event, held at Stockbridge Primary School's playing field.

Money raised from the day will go towards charities including children's hospice Naomi House and Evergreen, a Stockbridge over-sixties group.

BBC South's sports presenter, Roger Johnson, opened the Longparish fete, which raised more than £5,000 for the village hall and church fete.

This year's fete was packed with entertainment from Test Valley Concert Band, clowns, a pet dog show and dance routine from Longparish School.

Youngsters from Bishops Waltham appeared with the world's longest skateboard as part of their campaign for a skate ramp in the village.

It was a busy day in Nether Wallop when more than 300 people gathered in the village square for a street market and party.

Villagers selling bread, children's toys, refreshments, clothes, cakes and books raised £2,500 for the running of St Andrews Church.

Everyone old and young brought their own food and drink and partied through to the early hours of the morning in the village square.

Heartbeat actor Jason Durr came down from London to open Cholderton's village fete.

A mix of brilliant weather and hard work from the fete committee led to this year's fete being the best. More than £3,000 was raised, which will go towards the £50,000 needed to rebuild Cholderton's village hall, which was destroyed by floods last December.

Tidworth's polo pitch may have been the centre of press photographic attention on Saturday but a stretch of green at Wylye Road was where Tidworth folk were concentrated.

The town's first official annual festival of the century was blessed with ideal weather for the all-day occasion. Organisers hope to run the event again next year and aim to raise extra funds for the area's schools.

Whitchurch had a successful turnout to their All Hall-ows Church and St Mary's Church fete.

Hundreds attended this traditional fete with plant, cake and toy stalls, duck racing down the River Test, pony rides, tombola and refreshments. More than £3,500 was raised and will be split between the two churches.

Parents, pupils and villagers enjoyed an array of entertainment at Grateley Primary School fete, which raised £2,200.

Children enjoyed having their face painted, going on the bouncy castle and pony rides. In the beautiful weather everyone watched country dancing from school pupils, demonstrations of taekwondo and a fancy dress competition on the theme of famous people.

All the money raised will buy computer equipment for the school.