‘Heart-warming and humbling’ was the response from Sylvia and Jan Stuart of Petersfield, who host Ukrainian refugee Iva Repnytska, after they received an incredible £550 from their craft stall at the Giant Christmas Charity Market.

The money, which included dozens of donations, will go to the Leleka medical charity that sends critical first-aid supplies and equipment to the front line in war-torn Ukraine.

Iva (pictured right), who took along bunting, flags and a colourful headdress, was overjoyed at the kindness of the town’s people.

She gave out free sweets and cakes to stallholders and visitors at the indoor market on Saturday, December 3, in the hall at The Petersfield School.

One lady arrived with an envelope containing £50 which she had been saving for the medical life-saver in Ukraine, after reading about Iva’s story in the Post.

Joint organiser of the Christmas Charity Market, Jeremy Holmes, said he was delighted Iva had done so well.

He said: “People just want to help in some way, and it was so nice she had a stall with us.”

There were more than 30 stalls at the well-supported market that made £500 for Portsmouth Hospitals Charity Cancer Services Fund and other local good causes.

These included Petersfield Musical Festival (£120), Cat and Rabbit Rescue (£118) and Petersfield WI (£113).

In the school foyer, winners of a raffle for the hospital charity included Glen Welstead who won the top prize, a balcony set, donated by Tesco of Petersfield.

And Jill Lee and Jane Norman of Petersfield both won bottles of wine, and Philip Poulter won the tin of Quality Street sweets.

Brothers Jeremy and Martin (pictured left), who run the annual market and a similar one at Easter, thanked all their helpers.

These included the team from Stroud Evening WI who organised the refreshments, and Sean Ridley and Stella from The Petersfield School for being so supportive.

Anyone who wants to make a further donation to the Ukrainian medical charity can do so at https://www.leleka.ca