Friends of Rushen Heritage Trust’s secret gardens and hidden treasures event in Port St Mary and Cregneash has raised almost £5,000.

It saw 2,500 people visiting the villages to explore 10 private gardens which had been opened up to the public.

There was also an antique and collectors fair at Port St Mary town hall.

Organiser Pam Crowe said: ’We would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time over the weekend and helped make it such a fantastic success - and, of course, to all those who visited the village over the weekend to view the gardens and attend the fair.

’The event also brought extra business for Rushen’s many fine shops and eateries.’

She is now working with volunteers to plan the trust’s next event, Port Erin in World War II, which will run over the bank holiday weekend from August 27 to 30.

This will celebrate the 4,000 foreign women who arrived for internment in Port Erin in 1940, and will include a German flea market, vintage vehicles, a ration book challenge, children’s activities, internment trains, and prizes on offer.

There will also be an exhibition at the railway station focusing on internment, and another visiting exhibition curated by Ivor Ramsden from the Manx Aviation and Military Museum at Ronaldsway, held at the trust’s new heritage centre on Bridson Street.

There will also be another secret gardens event around Port Erin that weekend.

Anyone who would like to volunteer to help out can contact Mrs Crowe at 834614 or 473768.