A FUN dog show organiser has presented a £710 cheque to the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal.

Anne Hooper raised the money from a dog show at Merkins Farm Café and camping site at Bradford Leigh on Saturday August 12.

She presented the cheque to Cas Loudon, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal fundraiser, along with Jon and Hayley Painter, from the Merkins Farm Café.

Anne brought along her own dogs, Evie, wearing the same colour coat as the helicopter, and Kaylee.

The total was more than double the amount Miss Hooper was expecting to raise from the event and she was highly delighted with the amount.

Anne said: “I am absolutely over the moon at how much we raised. It was beyond expectations and I would just like to thank everyone for coming and making it such a brilliant day.

“We had 60 dogs entered on the day and raised £710 for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance Airbase Appeal. The highlight of the day was the air ambulance flying over the venue.

“It was the first time I had organised a fun dog show to raise funds for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance but it won’t be the last. We plan to hold another dog show at Bradford Leigh next year.”

Miss Hooper received help from Merkins Farm Café owners, Jon and Hayley Painter, and also Keith and Angela Brooks, from Neston, to organise the event.

Nick Burden, of the Hale Veterinary Hospital in Chippenham, judged dogs in 12 different categories before deciding on the two best dogs in the show.

Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Smokey Paws, the canine oxygen mask charity, all had stalls at the event.

The county’s air ambulance is trying to raise £5 million for a new airbase and operations centre at Outmarsh Farm at Semington near Melksham.