Doc Martin actor, Martin Clunes, put his sunflower growing to good use this year, as sales enabled him to donate more than £2,000 to Julia’s House children’s hospice.

Martin grew the flowers in fields at his home in Beaminster on the original site of the popular Buckham Fair.

He said: “We’ve never done anything like this before and had a tense wait to see how the crop would grow. In the end the planting wasn’t a massive success but I’m learning and next time I’ll do better. I’m hugely grateful to everyone who bought them and all the shops that so kindly sold them, rest assured that the money we raised from their sale will make a huge difference to local families across Dorset and Wiltshire who rely on the amazing and unique care provided by everyone at Julia’s House.”