Anniversary Crab Fair celebrations have received a boost after the town council donated £10,000 to the cause.

Egremont Town Council has backed the Crab Fair committee with the large donation as it prepares for the 750th fair.

The committee, which is made up of volunteers, is in the process of organising this year’s celebration.

“It’s a very special occasion for the Crab Fair, celebrating its 750th birthday,” said Egremont Town Council chairwoman Lena Hogg.

“There’s no other place in the world with that accolade and we felt that we needed to help put Egremont on the map.

“It will bring loads of people into the town which will be a benefit for the area and for the businesses, and if people come once and see what it has to offer then they might decide to come back again.”

A number of fundraising events will be held in the run-up to the anniversary fair in September as the organising committee hopes to make it one to remember.

It raised more than £1,500 during December when Santa and his elves visited children across Egremont.

And last Saturday, comedy hypnotist Adam Night appeared at the La’al Catholic Club to raise funds for the fair while a casino night is planned for tomorrow (Friday).

Held at Egremont Cricket Club, the evening will begin at 7.30pm and tickets, priced at £10, include pie, peas and gravy as well as initial betting tokens.

A variety of prizes, donated by local businesses, will be available on the night, including signed sports memorabilia. Tickets are available from the club, Daniel Shutt on 0790 7290543 or Nick Jeffery on 0773 6508003.

Last year, Adrian Zivelonghi, from Coventry, pipped multiple champion Tommy Mattinson to victory to take the trophy for the first time in the World Gurning Championships.

To make a donation to the Crab Fair, visit its website at www.egremontcrabfair.com, or to follow the committee’s progress with anniversary preparations, go to ‘Egremont Crab Fair World Gurning Championships’ on Facebook.