FAMILIES turned out to support the work of Devizes Hospital League of Friends at the charity's annual fete.

More than 200 people of all ages went to the event on Saturday.

It was held in the car park of the hospital's main entrance and the attractions included stalls selling cakes, books, plants, cream teas and bric a brac.

Members of DASH2 (Devizes Action to Save Our Hospital) were also there and they informed visitors about what the group is doing.

The group was set up to work with the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust to ensure a new hospital with essential services is built at Green Lane, Devizes.

Money raised from the fete will go to League of Friends funds and will be used to buy equipment for the hospital.

The main attraction of the fete was the Devizes Samba Band.

It was set up last September, entertained visitors with a variety of musical numbers.

The band, called Oi Sambistas!, has more than 30 members living in the Devizes and surrounding area.

Thelma Carr, committee member of the League of Friends, said: "People enjoyed the fete.

"It was a very pleasant afternoon in the sunshine.

"People especially liked listening to the samba band and that attracted a lot of people."

A meeting of the League of Friends takes place on June 25 at the Crown Centre, Devizes, at 7.30pm.

A new chairman will be appointed at the meeting.

Following the death in April of long standing chairman Ian Glendinning, who campaigned tirelessly for the hospital over many years, Alex Duffey has stepped in as the League's interim acting chairman.