SOME 300 visitors flocked to Hillfarrance for the village's first Open Gardens event in more than 20 years.

Fourteen gardens threw open their gates for the event, which raised £2,000.

The money has been ear- marked for the enhancement, appearance and benefit of the village itself. There will also be a donation to forces charity Help 4 Heroes.

The parish church provided another attraction for visitors on the day by celebrating Christmas - complete with a Christmas tree and all the decorations.

Graham Blight, one of the organisers said: "Some astrologers believe that Christmas Day has been wrongly attributed as being on December 25.

"The big bright star which the Three Wise Men were following 2,000 years ago has actually since been tracked via computer soft- ware to have been over Bethlehem on June 17."