DORCHESTER'S business community has been showing its support for a fundraising campaign to mark World Autism Awareness Day.

Autism Wessex said it has been delighted by the support from the local community in the county town after launching its Big Brekkie campaign last month.

The campaign will make World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday, April 2 by encouraging people to come together for breakfast and help raise funds for the charity's work in supporting people with autism.

Corporate partnerships officer Gemma Saunders said: “Sponsored by Williams Thompson Solicitors LLP, this campaign has proved really popular.

"It is a really flexible and straight forward campaign. We are asking people to simply host a brekkie, either at work or at home, at any time to suit them, and send us the donations.

"This means colleagues can all bring in something and share a delicious breakfast feast, bosses can take the opportunity to offer bacon butties all round and send us donations or friends can host breakfast in their own homes.

"It doesn’t even have to coincide with World Autism Awareness Day but can take place anytime.”

Local celebrity chefs Lesley Waters, Mat Follas and Alex Aitken have all given generously of their time and provided recipe ideas to give the campaign a boost and help raise awareness so as many people get involved as possible.

They all attended the launch event at the Casterbridge Hotel in Dorchester.

The popularity of the campaign means local foodie businesses have also signed up to donate a percentage of breakfast takings to the charity on World Autism Awareness Day.

Gemma added: “Our thanks goes to Dorchester based cafes The Horse with the Red Umbrella, who will be making a donation, and Potter’s Cafe for offering to donate a percentage of their takings on April 2.

"We would like to encourage anyone who is unable to host their own event to take themselves along to their local participating cafe and that way, these delicious breakfasts will not only be nourishing but will be doing so much more by raising funds for Autism Wessex.

"Updates of participating cafes will be available via our website”

To get involved or for more information about the campaign visit autismwessex.org.uk/bigbrekkie