Tidworth's Early Early Christmas Fair goes virtual
There's big changes to the event this year, due to Covid-19.
The EEC Fair would have normally been held around now, in marquees at Tedworth Park in Tidworth.
It traditionally attracts hundreds of shoppers across three days and last year also raised £35,000 for ABF the Soldiers' Charity.
But the coronavirus pandemic means the event's having to be held online instead - right throughout the next couple of weeks (until Thursday 1st October).
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Instead of the stalls set up in Tidworth, the traders have signed up to the take part through the EEC Fair website.
A portion of the sales made throughout the event will then go to the charity, with donations also welcomed.
Organiser Caroline Cary says they felt like they really should keep the Fair going in some form:
"It was a question of 'do we just postpone it' or 'do we actually try and help the small businesses' that have raised so much money for the Soldiers' Charity, and keep out brand alive, so that's why we're doing it.
"This event's been going for 28 years, so it's a very big established thing, not just for Wiltshire - it's a flagship event for ABF as well. Our community within Salisbury and Wiltshire is paramount."
As well as the shopping, other virtual events are planned during the Early Early Christmas Fair.
They include a curry night, an online gin tasting night and antiques valuations:
Caroline Cary says they hope the event will be just as successful as previous years in helping ABF the Soldiers' Charity, says they especially need support this year:
"We haven't been able to shout very loudly about it, but (the military) has been out there on the frontline (of the pandemic) too. Our military is still very important, when a crisis hits, we need out men and women."
The event's had support from the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, who's done a video message to 'welcome' people to the EEC Fair.
That can be seen on their website.
They've also had support from last year's Britain's Got Talent winner, and Chelsea Pensioner, Colin Thackery: