THE organisers of a festive food and craft fair in Broadway have hit back at critics who accused them of cashing in on an annual event in the village,

Hattie and Kate Risdale, partners in English Divine, are holding the event at the Lifford Hall during the first weekend in December which coincides with Broadway's late-night opening event on December 2.

Local traders say the fair, which will see 30 small crafts businesses setting up their stalls in the hall, will divert trade from them and last week criticised Lifford trustees for taking the booking.

Hattie Risdale, who lives in Broadway, said: "We wanted to do this the weekend before but it is the Broadway Players panto then.

Two or three weeks after we booked we had a call asking if we realised it was late-night shopping. We hadn't but as we had already had things printed by then it was too late to change. We didn't feel there would be a problem though because we will be bringing a lot more people into Broadway who wouldn't otherwise have come."

Hattie and Kate have sent out 500 invitations to a private viewing on Friday night, after which the fair will be open to the public as well as all day Saturday and Sunday.

"We anticipate about 300 people being at the viewing and after having a glass of bubbly and some canapes and spending a lot of money with us we hope they will go out and spend a lot of money in the shops."

Everyone taking part in the fair will have made or designed their goods in Britain and ten per cent of all takings will be given to Crohn's in Childhood Research Association. If successful, it is set to be a regular event in the village.

The fair will be open to the public on Friday, December 2 between 8pm and 10pm, following the private viewing, and on Saturday between 10am and 6pm and Sunday between 10am and 5pm.