A WIRRAL charity bazaar has raised a record-breaking £51,000 for North West Cancer Research.

More than 3,500 people attended the two-day event, now in its 28th year, which was held in a marquee at Thornton Manor.

All the money raised will help fund the charity's life-saving projects in Merseyside and Cheshire.

During the event there were 70 handpicked stalls from Wirral and all over the UK, offering unique and beautiful Christmas gifts, food and drink products not found on the high street – it was the perfect opportunity for visitors to kick start their Christmas shopping.

Stalls donated 10% of their takings giving shoppers the unique opportunity to donate to charity whilst doing their Christmas shopping.

In addition, the £4 entry fee and profits from the catering went directly to NWCR.

Visitors were treated to performances of carols from SingMeMerseyside, Birkenhead School Chamber Choir and The Bunker Boys as they made their way around the marquee.

Chair of the Wirral Bazaar's organisining committee Kate Williams, said: "It was a fantastic two days - it was wonderful to welcome so many visitors though the doors, and to see the full shopping bags heading out.

"We are thrilled that this year's Bazaar is our most successful to date but it's not possible to put on without the help of our friends and huge army of volunteers who support the committee, so a big thank you to them.

"All the hard work over the year is worth it when we know that we can enable North West Cancer Research, our local, independent cancer research charity, to continue its work in supporting research into cancers that effect those in the North West.

"We look forward to seeing you all in 2018.”

The Wirral Bazaar was first organised by local resident Lady Borringdon at Heswall Hall in 1989, with a dedicated group of volunteers taking on the responsibility ever since.

The volunteer committee, their army of friends and family, corporate supporters - The Mitchell Group, Cammell Laird, Investec Liverpool, Harris Opticians, Birkenhead School, Brewers, Gee and Watson, Whitmore and White, Thornton Manor and Wirral Life Magazine, have ensured the continuing success of the fair.

Over the past 27 years the Wirral Bazaar has raised £364,000 for North West Cancer Research.

This has helped fund projects such as looking at the advantages of proton beam therapies in head and neck cancer treatment, the development of effective skin cancer drugs and a first ever clinical trial for patients with bile duct cancer.