THE Community Council for Somerset celebrated its 90th anniversary with a mini farmers' market at Cheddon Fitzpaine Village Hall.

CCS chairman of the trustees Tess Gill welcomed guests, who were treated to donated refreshments and a cream tea or cakes donated by the Albemarle Centre after the event was opened by the Mayor of Gladsonbury, Cllr Jon Cousins.

The session featured a raffle, which raised £585 for the organisation's funds CCS was the brainchild of the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Thomas Henry Thynne, in 1926 and early initiatives included supporting the Village Drama Festival in Wells and helping a young person’s committee to work with Young Farmers.

A consistent element of its work has been to offer support to rural community buildings.

A spokesman said: "In the 90 years CCS has maintained its services through a world war, many recessions, social upheaval and seen many trending themes affect our rural communities including funding, rural housing developments and cut backs resulting in lack of services.

"CCS has adapted and modernised to ensure that we can support, promote and embrace all that Somerset has to offer its rural communities enabling them to thrive and flourish.

"In recent years CCS Oil Scheme has helped its members save a staggering £208,000, our village agents have supported 2,284 clients across the county, and in the last year alone we had 3,475 visits to our Funding 4 Communities portal for advice/opportunities.

"Our one-to-one support for small charities and community groups has raised over £815,000 for their community projects."