THE unveiling of a community quilt will be the highlight of the fun-filled Hillfarrance Festival and Fete this weekend.

Some 39 people from the area have contributed an eight-inch square using techniques including traditional patchwork, cross-stitch, tapestry, knitting, painting and photography. The diverse contributors range in age from 11-year-old Florence Gayton to over 80 and include men as well as women.

The quilt, themed on the village and the local countryside, was pieced and quilted by Christine Hudd in a project she described as the hardest sewing challenge she has ever had. It will be unveiled on Friday at 2pm.

The festival and fete, which will raise money for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, runs from Friday to Sunday with a ‘Tea Shoppe’ open in the church for cream teas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 2-4pm, and a fete on the village green on Saturday between 2-4.30pm.

The event will include stalls, activities for children – including a zipwire for teddies from the church tower – birds of prey, Steel the Show – a steel band from the Blackdowns – and barbecue.

There will also be a full-size reconstruction of an oriental chariot and some of the villagers will be displaying their classic cars.