STEAMING cups of coffee and delicious cakes were the order of the day across Malvern and Ledbury when shops, businesses and other groups took part in the Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Malvern mayor Julian Roskams and Macmillan fundraising manager Kelly Whitehouse were among the special guests at Malvern Event Organiser in Church Walk, where staff at the shop donned fancy dress.

Sarah Grout, who works there, said: “We were particularly moved when the day started with a £25 donation for a chocolate cake made by customers who had cancer and who value so greatly the work of Macmillan.

“This incredible act of generosity and gratitude spurred us on to try and reach a target of £500. And after a long day and a cake stall on Saturday we are delighted to announce that our total reached £610. Thank you, Malvern, for supporting Macmillan’s annual event so generously.”

Blue Ginger Gallery at Stiffords Bridge was another participant, raising £120.

Gallery owner Sue Lim said: “We had a special guest, children’s author Jackie Morris, who came and signed copies of her book, The Golden Hare.

She’s from Wales, but she’s a friend of one of the artists here.

“We also had a lady from Aylesbury who was staying in the Malvern area. She wanted to attend a Macmillan event, so she looked on Google and she found us.”

Staff at Malvern Hills District Council raised more than £200 by hosting a tea party as part of the event. Chief executive Chris Bocock said: “It’s great to be a part of the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and be able to support the fantastic work that Macmillan Cancer Support does to improve the lives of people living with cancer.“ The chief executive himself came up with an innovative way of raising extra cash for the charity by donating the unique prize of a ride around the Malvern Hills district on the back of his motorcycle. Children at the Downs, Malvern College’s primary school in Colwall, supported the coffee morning.

Youngsters donned green outfits, some of them painted their faces and all cooked dozens of cakes which they then sold. By the end of the day, the children had raised more than £500 and were pleased to be a part of this countrywide event. The cafe H2O at the Wyche Innovation Centre, perched high on the Malvern Hills, was another venue, with its event held on Saturday and raising a further £100 for the cause.

Customers at Country Casuals in Ledbury’s Homend did their bit, and the morning was very successful, said shop manager Dorothy Moyles.

Staff and customers got together over coffee and cakes, and raised £89.29. “It went really well,” said Mrs Moyles. “It was meant to be a coffee morning but it stretched into the afternoon and we didn’t get finished until 4pm.”

Ledbury Community Health and Care Centre also took part, but held their event on Saturday.

Staff, guests and patients enjoyed coffee, cakes, and a tombola and book stall, and raised £275. The event was organised by volunteer Joyce Ince.