HUNDREDS of businesses across Dorset laid on cakes and coffee to take part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The annual event aims to raise millions of pounds around the UK to help the charity continue its work helping those diagnosed with cancer and their families.

Last year the coffee morning raised £20.5 million pounds across the UK and £190,000 was raised in Dorset alone. Organisers are hoping this year will raise even more.

In Weymouth, staff at Mayfair Hair salon on Dorchester Road, made two batches of cakes or biscuits each to put on a massive coffee morning feast.

Amy Johnston, a stylist at the salon, said they had done the event last year and it went really well so decided to do it again.

She said: “It’s for a really good cause and we wanted to help out.”

Among the goodies on offer were coffee cakes, lemon cakes, carrot cakes, cookies and, of course, a chocolate cake.

At Lloyds Bank on St Mary Street staff ran out of tea and coffee and had to pop to the shops to get some more, so popular was the coffee morning event with customers.

Personal banking advisor, Esther Sheppard said they had a great morning and thanked everyone for their support, so far the money raised has hit £250.

She said: “We’d like to say a massive thank you, some customers gave us money and didn’t even take a cake.”

The bank staff would like to thank Patisserie Rowland for donating freshly made scones and Rosie Lee by the Sea for donating the crockery.

A ploughman’s lunch and bring and buy sale was held at Marshallsay Court in Chickerell. Joan Saunders thanked everyone who had helped out and Costa in Weymouth for their donation of coffees.

The event raised £300. She said: “We did wonderfully well. We have got about £300, but I’m sure that will increase.”

There was also a coffee afternoon in Easton Methodist Church on Portland.

Fundraising manager for Macmillan Dorset, Chrissie Wathen-Neal, drove around yesterday visiting as many coffee mornings as she could, from the Hall and Woodhouse Brewery, to Dorset County Hospital and a vintage tea party in Purbeck.

She said: “It’s just so fantastic when you drive round and see balloons and banners up and all the yummy cakes.

“They are going to make such a difference to people we help, just by putting the kettle on and baking a cake.”

Did you hold an event for Macmillan’s Biggest Coffee Morning? If so, we’d love to see your pictures. Email newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk tweet @Dorsetecho