A PLANT and craft fair to raise money for an African school has been hailed a "great success."

The Penarth and District Lesotho Trust (PADLT) held the fair on Saturday, May 21 and raised more than £1,400 for the TY academy in Lesotho which the group has been supporting for several years.

Despite early damp conditions, the people of Penarth brought their offerings of plants for sale.

With drier conditions developing later on, the buyers came out and purchased more than ever before, according to organisers.

The PADLT treasurer Dil Samuel was then able to report later in the day that a record figure of more than £1,400 had been raised.

The mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan, cllr Stuart Egan visited the fair and informed trustees that PADLT would be one of his official charities during his year of office.

A spokesman for PADLT said trustees were delighted with the news and with how the day had gone.

He added: "The quality of produce was high and specially the superb presentations inside the hall at Stanwell Road Baptist Church with attractive stalls and beautiful potential presents for the many customers who came not only to admire but to buy.

"The needs in Lesotho are still numerous and PADLT will concentrate on improving conditions in the kitchen and toilets in the academy in TY in the short term but are aware constantly of the bigger threat of the drought and the loss of harvests for this year for the country as a whole."

The next planned event in the PADLT year is the fun run on Saturday, June 18 in Cosmeston Country Park at 11am.