WHAT a fantastic effort!Villagers at Coddenham and the surrounding area turned out in force to support guide dog puppy Star - and raised more than £500 in five hours for the Evening Star's Christmas appeal.

WHAT a fantastic effort!

Villagers at Coddenham and the surrounding area turned out in force to support guide dog puppy Star - and raised more than £500 in five hours for the Evening Star's Christmas appeal.

Residents all used their own special talents to raise money - with stalls including locally-made festive gifts, homemade soup, chutneys, apple pies, Coddenham cheeses and cakes.

There was also a chance to buy jewellery, toys, and hand-painted Christmas cards.

Every penny profit went to the appeal to help pay for the training of the loveable puppy, who spent part of the afternoon at the event, meeting visitors and stallholders and playing in the snow outside.

The craft fayre at Coddenham Community Centre raised £432 plus an extra £122 was raised on the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association stand.

Jan Rowsell, who has organised the event with a group of friends, said: “We had a great time - puppy Star was there for most of the day and everyone wanted to take her home with them!

“Despite the snow, the support was fantastic.”

Puppy walker Penny Parker, who is looking after Star for the first year of her training, said: “It was a great afternoon and an amazing effort. We just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who took part.”

There is still a chance to get your hands on the work of one of the Coddenham residents - that of artist and illustrator Sandra Pond, who has painted a delightful watercolour of Star sitting on a Hollywood-style Star.

The illustration - a watercolour painted on Schoellershamer 4R paper using kolinski sable brushes and Windsor and Newton artists watercolour paints - is the product of ten hours' work and is worth about £250.

Readers have the chance to bid for the painting - and should send details of what you would be prepared to pay to Richard Cornwell, Evening Star, 172 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DU. Don't forget to include your name and address and telephone number.

Has your family been helped by the Guide Dogs - tell us your stories about this amazing charity: write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk

HOW TO GET INVOLVED . . .

The aim is to raise £10,000 to help with the cost of Star's training - and we want the whole community to get involved with the appeal.

Every penny and pound will count and ensure that the little puppy get the best care and training as she is prepared to do the job of guiding someone who lives every day of their lives with the blight of blindness.

If you are organising a fundraising event for the appeal, then we want to hear so we can give it maximum publicity and help boost the amount raised.

So let us know what you are up to - get in touch with Richard Cornwell at the Felixstowe Newsdesk on 01394 284109 or the Ipswich Newsdesk on 01473 324788.

To donate to the appeal, please send cheques - made payable to the Guide Dogs - to Richard Cornwell, Evening Star, 172 Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, IP11 7DU.

Anyone with coppers - pennies or tuppences - can drop them off at either the Felixstowe or Ipswich offices of the Evening Star.