A "heart-warming" fete in Rayne saw residents raise more than £2,000 for the village's primary school.

With the help of nearly 50 stallholders, Rayne School's Parent Staff Association (PSA) raised money for a pond dipping area and future school projects at a "doorstep" fete.

%image(15417629, type="article-full", alt="Racing the (battery-powered) dogs in Rayne. Picture: Roger King")

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%image(15417642, type="article-full", alt="Meeting Essex County Fire and Rescue Service at Rayne Doorstep Fete. Picture: Roger King")

Visitors raised £2,231 for the school.

Emma Wood, PSA vice chair, said: "It was truly heart-warming to see people come together - spread out safely - to enjoy themselves.

"We hope to put the money towards the planned pond renovations complete with pontoon to dip so we can establish a valuable outdoor educational facility for the children.

%image(15417645, type="article-full", alt="Willow Wonka's Sweet Factory. Picture: Roger King")

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%image(15417655, type="article-full", alt="Smiles all round on the doorstep at Rayne Doorstep Fete. Picture: Roger King")

"Thank you so much to the whole village for their fantastic support in this and indeed over the whole of the pandemic.

"The school strives to be at the heart of the local community.

"Events like this only strengthen that bond."

Past fundraisers have supported an outdoor classroom, school books and furniture.

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%image(15417666, type="article-full", alt="Brave teachers were put into the stocks. Pupils were even braver for throwing sponges at him. Picture: Roger King")

%image(15417669, type="article-full", alt="Rayne Doorstep Fete. Picture: Roger King")

%image(15417672, type="article-full", alt=""Keep Calm and Sponge a Teacher!" Picture: Roger King")

%image(15417677, type="article-full", alt="Rayne Doorstep Fete. Picture: Roger King")

%image(15417680, type="article-full", alt="Did Essex Police get any new recruits? Picture: Will Durrant")