Monty Python star Michael Palin helped a primary school raise more than £1,000 for a new library at its annual summer fair.

Carlton Primary School in Kentish Town was transformed into an Alice in Wonderland-themed paradise, with a mad hat competition, a white rabbit’s maze and actors dressed up as colourful characters from the novels.

Mr Palin, patron of the Grafton Road school, posed with the Mad Hatter and took part in several of the themed activities, which included pin the grin on the Cheshire Cat, and a Red Queen-inspired tin alley.

Pupils also petted live rabbits brought in from rabbit sanctuary Odie’s Warren for Rabbits in Suffolk at the fair on Saturday.

The event raised £1,275 to stock the school’s new library.

Monika Rego, chairwoman of the school’s parent teacher association, said: “I thought an Alice in Wonderland theme would be nice, bright and colourful with lots of things to do for the children.”