COMMUNITY groups across Oxfordshire raised a cuppa for a good cause at the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

The event has run annually since 1990 and sees thousands of people across the country hold coffee mornings in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Fundraisers in Oxford, Banbury and Bicester were among the many people who took part in the county yesterday.

Around 200 people attended the coffee morning at St Mary’s Church in Headington, raising nearly £500. Safia Baker, 42, a helper at the church, said: “So many people came in, mingled and spoke to people they didn’t really know.

“It was a good community event as well as a good cause.

“My dad, my auntie and my cousin died of cancer. So many people are affected by it.”

Staff at Bicester Avenue and Home Garden Centre have taken part in the event for the past few years and usually raise about £500.

Garden centre manager Adrian Drake, 40, said: “We have some staff at the cafe wearing T-shirts; we have banners and signs which have been up since last week. People give generously.”

John Watson Special Needs School in Wheatley had a coffee morning and raised more than £180.

Victoria Jackson, 30, a teacher at John Watson said: “It went really well, the students did an excellent job. We had a member of staff who died of cancer a year and a half ago.”

Feathers Hairdressing in Banbury also invited people in for a brew to raise more than £200. Owner Kelly Beak, 39, said: “It’s a good cause, it gets people together and it’s a fun morning.

“It went really well, lots of people came in to support us. People donated cakes and raffle prizes. “It’s important because lots of clients have been affected by the issue.”

And staff at the Oxford Mail also got involved, raising more than £200 by selling cakes at our offices in Osney Mead.

Telephone sales executive Corrine Simmons said: “My dad died of cancer three years ago and so many in the office know people who have been affected by cancer.”

Copa of Oxford raised around £50 from the coffee morning and bar staff member, Laura Bedwell, 19, said: “We make it fun by having a quiz and cakes, trying to raise awareness. Most people know someone who has had cancer and it’s a way of doing it for them.”

Macmillan Cancer Support was hoping more than 115,000 people would take part in events across the country. That’s more than double the 51,000 people who took part last year, raising a record £10m.