More than �500 was raised to buy a cow for a friary at Ottery Parish Church last weekend.

Children from the church put on a milkshake and cookie bar in the afternoon, and there was a cheese and wine event with Brother Samuel from the Hillfield Franciscan Friary in the evening.

It was all in aid of purchasing a cow for the monks based in Dorset, as they seek to live a more sustainable lifestyle.

Thanks to donations from Sainsbury’s, who provided the cookies, and local businesses such as Moving Pictures and Otter Nurseries, the six children who helped out in the afternoon managed to raise more than �100 from sales and a raffle.

One of the prizes was fittingly an acrylic painting of a cow, given to the project by Colyton Grammar School pupil Rebecca Young.

In the evening Brother Samuel spoke about environmental issues and sustainability in the church, and explained the way the monks live.

He said the way people live in today’s world is unsustainable, and they have begun cutting back on eating meat.

More than �400 was raised by the cheese and wine event, which will go towards buying a cow, which will provide milk and eventually meat for the friary.