TRADERS in Dorchester are laying on a feast of summer entertainment.

Antelope Walk is holding its third annual summer fair and this year will raise funds for the maternity ward at Dorset County Hospital .

The fundraising mission has been inspired by Clare Stokes, from the Robin James Salon, who recently gave birth to her ‘miracle baby’ Otis after suffering two miscarriages last year.

Clare, who will be attending the event on Saturday with five-week-old Otis, said she hoped to see as much as possible raised for the maternity ward as she was full of admiration for the staff and the work they do there.

She said: “They have been amazing and it would be really good to raise lots of money for them.

“All the staff are over the moon that we are doing this for them, they are really chuffed.”

The event will run from 9am to 5pm with street entertainment, in-store promotions and demonstrations and plenty of family fun such as face painting.

The highlight of the day will be the raffle draw at 4.30pm with £2,400 worth of prizes up for grabs that have been donated by Antelope Walk shops including a food processor, 58-piece cutlery set, a silver necklace, swimwear and a hand-painted picture by artist Sue Peake.

Tickets for the raffle are on sale now from Antelope Walk businesses and cost £1 or £4 for a strip of five tickets.

Chairman of the Antelope Walk events committee David Taylor, who is manager of the Owen and Simpson cook shop, said the day would be full of fun for people from Dorchester and further afield to enjoy and raise money for a worthy cause.

He said: “The staff at the maternity ward at Dorset County Hospital helped Clare through a difficult time and Otis is a beautiful, delightful little boy – all of us at Antelope Walk are very pleased he has been delivered safely.

“We want to welcome as many people as possible on Saturday to join in the celebrations and raise money for the ward.”

The previous two events have proved popular and raised over £4,000 for causes such as the Weldmar Hospice-care Trust, Julia’s House children’s hospice and Dorset County Hospital ’s Digital Mammography Appeal.

Mr Taylor said this year’s event would also be a chance for visitors enjoying the Olympic sailing events to make the short trip up to Dorchester and enjoy what the county town has to offer.