A RECORD-BREAKING £45,000 was raised at this year’s Dorchester Festival.

The money, more than twice the previous record total, will be split between Dorchester Abbey and Parents and Children Together (Pact) which supports vulnerable children and families.

More than 4,000 people flocked to 50 events at the village festival run by local volunteers and based around the abbey from May 1 to May 10.

Highlights included sell-out concerts by The Tallis Scholars choir and John Rutter, a CGI evening with Oscar-winning visual effects specialist Ben Morris, a food fair with cookery demonstrations and a wide variety of children’s entertainment, including a scarecrow trail and duck race.

On the second day of the festival, 10 volunteers abseiled down the 100ft tower at the abbey, raising more than £15,000 in sponsorship.

Pact has been supporting families since 1911 by facilitating adoption and fostering, therapeutic services and community projects across London and the south.

It hopes to use the funds from the festival to provide therapeutic services to Oxfordshire families, helping adopted and fostered children address painful issues from their past.

The charity’s Jan Fishwick said: “We are overwhelmed by the final total raised and would like to thank the festival organisers for choosing Pact, and for holding such an amazing festival.

“This money will help many Pact families in Oxfordshire.”

Festival director Steph Forman said she was delighted to have raised so much money.