PEOPLE and businesses across Dorset opened their door to support the world’s biggest coffee morning.

The Macmillan Coffee Morning is celebrating its 25th anniversary, raising money to help people who are battling cancer.

An estimated 2,000 events took place yesterday across Dorset.

Events were hosted at the likes of M&S in Weymouth, Bridport Leisure Centre and the Winterbourne Hospital.

As well as hosting the coffee morning, ten per cent of the sales of certain products from the food hall at M&S are going to Macmillan throughout September.

People came together to enjoy sweet treats and a hot drink to raise money for the cause.

Fi Woods, 46, from Portland is battling a rare form of blood cancer and organised an event in Wyke Regis.

She was delighted to see so many people at the event which she had organised to give back to Macmillan.

She said: “There were lots and lots of people I’ve been busy from the moment I opened.

“It is a national event and there are so many coffee mornings going on. You never know how many people are going to turn up.”

Other locations holding a morning included Battens solicitors in Dorchester, Chestnut House nursing home in Dorchester and the Café Octagon in Poundbury.

Chrissie Wathen-Neal, Dorset fundraising manager for Macmillan has been travelling around Bridport and Dorchester visiting events and was glad to see so many people taking part.

She said: “Every morning is busy but today has been a delightfully busy morning.

“I just never cease to be amazed by what people will do.

“The time and effort they put in to this amazes me.”

Each day in Dorset, 14 people are diagnosed with cancer and the coffee mornings are just one part of the fundraising Macmillan does.

Last year’s event in Dorset raised more than £200,000 and Chrissie said that she is hopefully this year’s will raise even more money.

However, there is still a chance to support Macmillan at coffee mornings today.

Waterside Weymouth Community Forum is holding its annual coffee morning today from 10am until 12pm.

The morning is being held at the Park Centre in Chelmsford Street with a bring and buy stall as well as cake and coffee.

A coffee morning is also being held at the Upwey Wishing Well from 10.30am until 12pm today and on Monday.

Last year’s event nationally raised £25 million to help the 2.5 million people in the UK who are living with cancer.