DORSET and Somerset solicitors Pardoes have praised TV Martin Clunes and his wife Philippa for helping raise nearly £200,000 for charities over the last few years.

Martin and Philippa organise the annual Buckham Fair event on their farm in Beaminster each year with 11 hours of non-stop entertainment – and latest figures show this year was a record amount for charity which took the total amount to £178,000 in only six years.

The money raised over the years has been distributed to the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance and Julia’s House, and this year some £66,000 was raised for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

At the same time, Bafta winner Martin’s leading role in the ITV comedy drama series Doc Martin has thrust him to the top of his profession with sometimes more than 10 million people tuning in.

Pardoes, with offices across Somerset and also now in Dorset, has become an established part of the fair over the years, helping to raise substantial amounts for charities. For the past two years it has been the main sponsors of the event and has seen the work of the couple up close.

Board member Bhavani Hogarty of Pardoes said: “Everyone is over the moon at the amount raised this year, and the substantial amounts raised over the last few years, and it wouldn't be happening at all without Martin and Philippa.

“We want to say a massive thank you to them. They have enabled this to become a part of the annual calendar and have also put in so much effort to making it so successful and even better each year. Pardoes are an integral part of the community which is why we love being part of Buckham Fair.”