ANYONE for tea? Indulge all in the name of a good cause with a fundraiser backed by a Dorset chef.

Action Medical Research is bringing its fundraiser Action Cream Teas back for a second year to raise money for medical research.

Last year the charity successfully delivered thousands of cream teas to homes, schools and workplaces around the country.

A second delivery is now scheduled for August.

The Action Medical Research charity is calling on residents and businesses across the county to take a break and ‘enjoy a cuppa’ as part of its unique fundraising campaign.

In every box is a British cream tea to share with colleagues and friends, which includes: scones, Tiptree strawberry jam, Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream and three strawberry crème chocolates, as well asYorkshire Tea, a knife and serviette.

Celebrity chef and Dorset resident Lesley Waters is continuing to show her support for Action Cream Teas.

Well known for her regular television appearances on Ready Steady Cook and This Morning, Lesley is also a former head tutor of Leith's School of Food and Wine.

She is also the author of several cookery books and runs her own cookery school at Abbots Hill in Halstock, Dorset.

Lesley’s ‘twist’ is that she’s often partial to a savoury scone with cheese and her home-made tamarind, pear and date chutney (see recipe below).

Mrs Waters said: “I’m delighted to be supporting Action Medical Research’s Cream Teas because, quite simply, they taste delicious.

“Just put the kettle on, relax, have a chat and help raise vital funds for the children’s charity.”

Tracey Edwards, Action’s cream tea events manager said: “The reaction to our initial cream teas in a box campaign on June 18 was so overwhelming that we’ve decided to bring the deliveries back by popular demand.

“All you have to do is order by Thursday July 30 and your cream tea will be delivered to your door on Friday 7 August.

"The minimum order is for 10 boxes, so why not get together with friends or colleagues to share a delicious treat and raise funds for sick babies and children?

“It’s also the perfect way to say thank you to someone by giving them the chance to take a break and put the kettle on while our scrumptious cream teas are delivered to the door.”

Ordering one of Action Medical Research’s cream teas in a box will help the charity’s work to save and change the lives of babies and children.

Action Medical Research is currently funding research around stillbirth, epilepsy, meningitis, cerebral palsy and brain cancer, as well as some rare and distressing conditions that severely affect children.

For more information on Action’s cream teas, visit: action.org.uk/cream-teas

Lesley Waters' recipe:

Lesley’s tamarind, pear and date chutney recipe, to be served with a savoury scone and cheese:

Tamarind, pear and date chutney

You will need:

25g (1oz) butter

1 onion, cut into chunky, wedge-like strips

85g light muscovado sugar

150mls (1/4 pint) beer

3 teaspoons tamarind

2 ripe dessert pears, cored and thickly sliced

170g (6oz) fresh dates, roughly chopped

Method:

In a large frying pan, heat the butter. Add the onion and cook for 10 minutes over a very low heat until softened. Increase the heat, stir in the sugar and cook for 2-3 minutes until golden.

Stir in the beer, tamarind, pears and dates. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes until the pears and dates have softened. Then remove the lid and cook uncovered for a further 5 minutes until slightly reduced and chutney-like.