FOLK across Bolton took a well earned break and supported a cause close to many people’s hearts at the same time.

Businesses, schools and many other organisations took part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The annual event has grown in the borough with many organisations boosting funds with a cake sale.

Among those taking part was Castle Hill Primary School in Tonge Moor.

The coffee morning was organised by pupils.

Sarah Holden from the school said: “Two weeks ago, three of our Year Six pupils wrote a letter to the headteacher requesting that they be able to sell cakes to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Amirah, Brianna and Shiloh wrote that they recognised lots of people they know, and they themselves, have been affected by this horrible disease in some way and that they wanted to do something to help.

“Amirah, Brianna and Shiloh explained their cause and asked for staff’s support in baking or providing cakes for the sale. The response from staff was very generous with the staffroom worktops being full of donations! The girls and their parents also bought or baked cakes for the sale.

“At home time on Friday the girls set up their cake carts on the playground.

“Parents and children really got on board with supporting the girls and supporting the cause and over £140 was raised! £13 of this was raised from raffling off a cream cake made and decorated beautifully by Brianna and her mum.”

She added: “School are so grateful for the ways in which staff, parents and children supported the girls in raising money for Macmillan. We are incredibly proud of Amirah, Brianna and Shiloh for their empathetic thinking and their willingness to work hard for the good of others.”

Teachers, staff and parents across the Bolton School campus also lent their support.

Parents from Hesketh House, the junior girls’ school, held a pre-school coffee morning and staff in central services held their own morning break event, with a wide selection of cakes and biscuits being baked and contributed.

Teaching staff in both the boys’ and girls’ division senior schools also held their own events and it is hoped that £500 will be raised across the school.

Harman McManus Funeralcare also took part with staff raising money while on their break. The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning is Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event for people facing cancer. The charity asks people all over the UK to host their own coffee mornings and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year over £27 million was raised by Macmillan.