COFFEE and cake was the theme of the day last Friday as shops across Wiltshire took part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Last year, 860 coffee mornings took place across the county, raising nearly £170,000 for the charity and once again this year stores were hell bent on raising as much as they could for the cause.

Staff at Melksham's Specsavers branch, in Bank Street, laid out their best home made creations, raising £120, over what proved to be a particularly poignant day.

"One staff member that worked here had breast cancer so it is a cause that is very close to our hearts and we were very happy to raise what we could," said organiser and optical assistant Trudi Nash.

At Trowbridge's Howard Travel, of Church Walk, in excess of 70 people turned up to the 10.30am-12.30pm coffee morning, raising nearly £450 for the charity.

"It went absolutely unbelievably. We all speculated that we may get around 40 people so to get nearly double that was brilliant," said travel consultant Sasha Bryant.

Residents from Westbury were treated to coffee, cake and a warm welcome at Wilsons Residential, High Street, who were throwing their first coffee morning last Friday, raising £80.

"Everyone was very happy with how it went. From now until Christmas we will donate £150 to a charity, such as MacMillan, off the back of every house we sell," said sales manager Lewis Sinden.

Just down the road, 14 residents of The Knoll gathered on Friday morning to share coffee and cakes and a good natter.

"Everyone had a good time, raising £65 for a worthy cause. It was also a good way for people along the street to get together for something different," said Carol Peacock, 63, who organised the get-together.

Lorraine McNamara raised £465 from a coffee and cake morning she arranged last Friday at the Tesco Extra community room in County Way, Trowbridge.

"I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year with all the support I received from Bath RUH and Macmillan I felt like I wanted to give something back," said the 48-year-old from Paxcroft Mead.

Macmillan Cancer Support provides financial, emotional and medical support to cancer sufferers and their families.

There are more than 2.5 million people living with cancer in the UK alone.