COFFEE, cakes and community was the focus for a church gathering over the weekend in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The worldwide event will be staged in community venues, shops, businesses and countless living rooms the world over tomorrow, although some eager fundraisers got in quick with their own events over the course of last weekend.

St Saviour’s Church in Ashford Road was one of the venues to opened its hall doors for a coffee morning in aid of the charity on Saturday. Since 1990, more than £138 million has been raised through the coffee morning.

Visitors relaxed and enjoyed a hot drink and delicious home-made cakes baked by parishioners, in exchange for a small donation towards the charity.

Father Dexter Bracey said he was delighted to welcome members of the congregation into the church hall.

“This is an opportunity for us to reach out into the community and get ourselves known. We have people who regularly attend the coffee mornings and there is such a warm and welcoming atmosphere here.

“We’re also giving something back to the community whose support we are thankful for.”

Friends and church-goers Karen Robinson and Mary Gladman said they were proud to be able to support Macmillan.

Karen said: “It’s just nice to sit down, relax and have a coffee with people you may not know and don’t always get to spend time with.

Mary added: “They’re a lovely group of people here, I’ve been coming to church for over 25 years, it’s just lovely to meet new people and make new friends.”

Meanwhile in Purton almost all of the neighbourhood dropped in when Emma Berry hosted her own coffee morning on Saturday.

The garden of her home was packed with more than 150 friends and neighbours who helped to raise £400 on the raffle alone.

There was live music, stalls and a DJ as well as coffee and cakes. She held her firs fundraising coffee morning 23 years ago and since then she has raised more than £8,600 for the charity.

She lost her mum Nancy Williams to ovarian cancer at the age of 57 in 1999.

“We are a big family so we were able to look after mum but we know that not everybody has that kind of support available,” she said. “The following year my sisters, brother and I decided we wanted to do something to support people affected by cancer, so we started supporting Macmillan’s annual coffee morning.

“It was small to begin with and whilst we haven’t done it every year, it has grown tremendously supported by friends and neighbours.

“We get the whole street involved as well as friends from schooldays. It’s a great chance to catch up socially and we have some fun, eat some cake and raise money for a good cause. We get a great buzz from doing it as well. We hold a raffle and tombola from donated items. People give us what they can and we turn it into cash for Macmillan.”

Last year’s event raised £3,000 and this year she is hoping to do the same with a little help from WH Smith where her sister Linda Taylor works. Last year the firm donated £1,000.

The World's Biggest Coffee Morning will officially take place tomorrow. Among some of the businesses taking part in Swindon is The Virgin Money Swindon Store at Regents Circus.

They will be offering tea, coffee and a range of tasty treats as they support Macmillan Cancer Support in their famous coffee morning event.

Kirstie Bevan, Virgin Money Swindon assistant store manager said: “The Virgin Money Swindon Store is delighted to be hosting the coffee morning as part of Macmillan Cancer Support World’s Biggest Coffee Morning. There will be a range of tasty treats on offer and everyone is welcome. The funds raised will help Macmillan Cancer Support continue the wonderful work they do in our local community and throughout the UK.”

Shoe retailer Brantano will also be taking part in the world’s biggest coffee morning in a bid to raise vital funds to help ensure no one faces the fight against cancer alone.

Joanna Rayner, manager of the Swindon store in Greenbridge Retail Park, Swindon, said: “The Coffee Morning initiative has grown and grown to be the biggest in the world, and it’s a privilege to be involved in this remarkable fundraising event.

“It’s for an amazing cause and we invite everyone to come in to the store, meet the staff, enjoy some lovely cake and help us raise as much money as we can.”

Brantano aims to raise £40,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support, its chosen charity for this year.