A sizzling summer fete was a huge success at RA Butler Infant and Junior School over the weekend as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Carnival rides and camping created a festival atmosphere at RAB Fest to help reach a £50,000 fundraising target for new facilities.

Sally Fairall, co-chairman for Friends of RAB, said: “It was all we hoped it to be and more.

“The Year 6 kids did some fantastic stalls, all ideas they had come up with themselves.”

After the spinning teacups, pirate ship and inflatable slide were packed away the school field was transformed into a festival ground.

More than 160 campers set up their tents to the sound of family folk band The Hooligans and were served pizza and fish and chips by Saffron Walden businesses The Trawlerman and Bonne Fire Box.

Friends of RAB are hoping to put the funds raised towards building an outdoor classroom, new playground equipment and a story-telling area.

Mrs Fairall added: “It felt like a festival and the Hooligans gave a fantastic vibe for us. There’s no doubt the new facilities would improve the kids learning and their environment.

“It was just an incredible weekend, it was a really, really special event.”

Hungry campers were woken to bacon rolls being dished out by The Mocha on Sunday morning (June 21) and RAB Fest raised around £5,000 towards the 50th anniversary target.