ACTOR Martin Clunes appeared at the Corn Hall in Cirencester this week to open a charity Christmas Fair.

The Doc Martin star broke from a busy filming schedule in Madagascar to support the fundraising event for HFT, a charity in aid of people with learning disabilities.

Martin, from West Dorset, made his first visit to Cirencester especially for the fair on Tuesday morning and was staggered by the size of crowd that greeted him.

Speaking to the excited packed out hall, he said: “It’s a lovely thing (HFT) do and it’s lovely for you all to come and support them at this Christmas Fair.”

Martin became a patron of the charity formerly known as Home Farm Trust six years ago after he met parents of someone with learning disabilities. The couple explained they were enjoying their first holiday in decades thanks to the charity’s respite service and Martin was keen to pledge his support.

Now celebrating its 25th year, the Christmas Fair organised by the Cirencester and District Friends of HFT has generated £85,000 for Gloucestershire projects.

Martin said: “The money the Christmas Fair has raised over the years is phenomenal. It’s a wonderful charity and the impact the money will have is massive.”

Proceeds from the HFT Christmas Fair will provide gadgets like fingerprint keyholes to give people with disabilities a better quality of life.

Committee member Harriet Hicks, said: “The first fair we ever held in Corn Hall raised about £100 and today we’re hoping to raise eight thousand - it’s very exciting.”