An annual Christmas craft fair has raised over £800 for a mental health charity and a church.

This year’s event was held on November 26 at St Margaret’s Church in Garden Village and raised a total of £840, which has been split evenly between the church, which is in need of roof repairs, and the mental health charity Mind. This means both will receive £420.

The event was started by Elaine Hughes in memory of her daughter Emma Lloyd, who died in 2018 at the age of 38 following years of struggle with her mental health.

Mrs Hughes has worked hard to raise money for mental health charities and causes since and has been helped by friends and family. One of these projects was the start up of her Christmas craft fair, which allowed her to sell her popular decoupage bottles.

READ MORE: Christmas craft fair is back and set to support church and charity

Decoupage bottles are decorated using a process where napkins are glued to bottles, making them look painted.

Mrs Hughes learned to create them shortly after her daughter’s death, and it became a hobby which has been proven popular in the community.

The bottles are sold for £10 each and are also currently sold at The Beeches in Gresford. Over the last year she has sold at least 130 bottles, raising around £1,300 for Mind.

Since she first began fundraising, Mrs Hughes has raised a total nearing £6,000 for the charity and has now also raised some money for her local church.

Elaine said that she was pleased with this year’s result and was very grateful for all the help.