OPENING their home and garden, Farrs in Beaminster was a runaway success for much-lauded furniture designer John and Jennie Makepeace.

They had 930 visitors who managed to raise £4,658 for the National Garden Scheme charities, plus another £1,300 from the sale of teas.

Mr Makepeace, pictured, said it was a brilliant day with people even coming from as far away as Switzerland.

He said: “The place was absolutely teeming.

“People loved coming into the house.

“I think a lot of people came because they could see the furniture. People on the gate said everyone was leaving happy.

“It was a great success and for us, twice the number of visitors we had on the last occasion.

“People wanted to take copies home of our planting plans and people were overwhelmed with the house.

“When they come into a house and nothing is familiar it makes a quite enriching experience.”