ONE of South East Cornwall’s biggest charity fund-raising events marks its half-century this week.

The 50th annual exhibition and sale of art and craft in aid of Cancer Research UK begins in Liskeard Public Hall with an opening night this evening (March 6).

Hundreds of pieces of work from artists and craftspeople will then be on show - and for sale - from March 7 to 11, helping raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research.

Organised by the charity’s Liskeard committee, the event has contributed towards their total of more than £850,000.

The catalogue for this year’s show will reflect its proud history, being a replica of the very first one from 1968.

The event will be officially launched by Nicholas Smith at the traditional ‘Opening Night’ on Tuesday, from 7pm for 7.30pm. He is the chairman of The St Just and Land’s End District fundraising group of Cancer Research UK. Nicholas is an artist himself and has a gallery at St Just.

The St Just committee, like Liskeard’s, have been organising a very successful art exhibition for many years - and 2016 was their 50th anniversary.

Admission to the opening evening is £5 to include cheese and wine, and it is a golden opportunity to be first in the queue to purchase art works ahead of the rest of the exhibition’s visitors.

As usual, the committee has received a big response to the event from artists and crafts people both locally, countywide and throughout the South West, all keen to help the charity, and to take part in one of the region’s biggest exhibitions of its kind.

Some 800 entries are expected, but the organisers will not know the number until handing in day this Sunday (March 4) between 9.30am and 3pm.

There are no special spots for established and well known artists who will find their work hung alongside paintings from novices, a criteria which visitors to the exhibition and the contributors themselves, find intriguing.

There is also a fund-raising raffle, with excellent prizes generously offered by supportive local businesses and people.

Volunteers giving their time and hard work are key to the success of the event, from the mammoth effort of setting up the displays from Sunday onwards, to staffing the exhibition and administering the sales.

The 50th annual exhibition and sale of art and craft in aid of Cancer Research UK is at Liskeard Public Hall from March 7 to 11.

There are refreshments and lunches served each day and on Saturday, from 11am-2pm there will be a Big Breakfast prepared and served by members of Liskeard and Looe Ladies Circle.

The exhibition is open daily, from 10am-7.30pm, apart from Sunday, when the event closes at 3.30pm.

Admission is £1.50.