ICE CREAM flew off the stalls as the sun shone on Merstham's annual Quality Street fair.
After last year's rain-spattered event, organisers and visitors basked in the summer heat as they wandered the fairground stalls and were entertained by clowns, a barbecue and the popular return of the village stocks.
The whole street was decked in bunting on Saturday as around 600 people crowded into the fair, raising £4,000 for St Katharine's Church in Church Hill.
Co-organiser John Turner said: "It went very well.
"The weather was almost too nice; it was very, very hot. The ice creams were very popular.
"People thoroughly enjoyed themselves; they came and browsed and got involved and those who wanted to could relax and eat."
The event was sponsored by national organisation Community Games as part of the continuing legacy of last summer's Olympic Games.
To keep up the active theme, a lindy hop group performed dance routines and pupils at Merstham Primary School danced around a maypole.
Reigate and Banstead Deputy Mayor Steve Farrer opened the event and took his place in the village stocks, which were run by fellow councillor Mark Brunt.
Cllr Brunt told the Mirror: "The day was great, it went so well.
"The deputy mayor entered into the spirit of the day too. It was brilliant.
"Everyone was out and everyone was getting involved. It was good to see so many people out raising money for charity."
The town was first granted permission for a fair in around 1340. The event was cancelled during the war and reinstated in the 1980s by the then rector Philip Duvall.
Since then it has become a fixture in the town's calendar.
"I think it's the attraction of the street," Mr Turner said.
"It looks superb with the bunting and all the old houses. We are so grateful to the residents for letting us do it every year."
