WHAT started off as a small, simple pottery party for Helena Mueller and her friends has become a day packed with activities in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

The fun includes pottery demonstrations, a ball pit, candy carriage, displays for cakes, cards, jewellery and flower arrangements, a photography stand, a nail bar and even an ice cream van.

A huge raffle will also be held - with just a few of the prizes listed on this page.

Helena, of March, said: “I have all my Christmas gifts wrapped in the loft, they are all tagged and in bags ready for me to give out. All my cards are stamped and ready to be posted.

“I have my little boy’s second birthday party all in hand too - and Harry won’t be two until next May. So I needed a project as I like to have things to plan.

“So I decided to plan a pottery party for my friends and their little ones. I had booked Trinity Church Hall and we were going to pay �2 each to cover the cost of the hall hire.”

However, the event started to grow when Helena approached businesses for raffle prizes. She said: “The prizes were just too good to go into a raffle at a small coffee morning and I wanted all of the people who gave these prizes to get a mention for their kindness.”

It grew so much that Helena was forced to move the event from Trinity Church to the Oliver Cromwell Hotel. The party takes place on Wednesday November 7 from 10.30am-2.30pm.

Helena said: “I planned it for a date that was not in the school half-term was because I did not feel confident about planning a big event. I think it’s safe to say that I no longer feel that way.”

Peterborough Greyhounds has also donated a number of discounted vouchers giving free entry and a fast food meal for �1. An A4 sheet containing four vouchers is being sold for �2.