An army of quirky snowmen and reindeer made from logs has helped a Godalming family to raise over £9,000 for charity.

Andrew Mackenzie, his wife Sandra, son Alex and two grandchildren spent much of last year's lockdown creating the fun festive decorations to sell at Christmas.

The money has all gone to Harefield Hospital, where Andrew received a lung transplant seven years ago.

The idea came in a roundabout way. Andrew, who had a successful career in banking, took early retirement – and ended up selling logs.

Four years ago he saw a reindeer and snowman made from logs in the porch of a house to which he was delivering, and the idea of making them for charity was born.

Andrew made 100, and all sold. The following year he decided to make 300, and they too sold.

Last year the family decided to make 1,000.

"And then Covid appeared and we thought that was quite a challenge," he said.

"I couldn't go out for four or five months as I had to shield, so I spent a lot of time on it at home. We all chipped in and did it."

And after Andrew issued a call on Facebook for advice, "people came out of nowhere to help," he says.

One man helped them set up a website to sell the figures. "He said he would do it free of charge, even before he knew it was for charity," says Andrew.

The figures were also sold at Haslemere Garden Centre, Secretts in Milford, Oxenford Farm at Peperharow and the Waffle Van at Broadwater Lake.

"We had raised £4,000 by the beginning of December," Andrew said. "It was absolutely incredible."

Andrew provides the logs and pieces of wood from the plantation near Birtley where he gets his logs, while Sandra crochets the scarves, son Alex does the felling and builds the reindeer base, while the two grandchildren are tasked with glueing on the labels and sticking on the eyes.

As well as the figures, the family produced kits for people to build their own.

Andrew says he is now looking to produce even more this year, to boost the grand total of £9,099.78 that has already gone to the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Trust.