VILLAGERS in Worcestershire are busy preparing for one of their most popular events of the year which is due to take place today - a big fund-raiser for St Richard's Hospice.

Now in its 16th year, the annual autumn coffee morning and evening in Peopleton attracts hundreds of people who come to buy from a variety of stalls that sell a host of goodies including Christmas decorations, scarves, knitwear and jewellery.

There should also be cakes and other locally produced food, bring and buy stalls, bric-a-brac, plants, a tombola and a chocolate fountain.

St Richard's, based in Rose Hill, near Worcester city centre, hopes to raise thousands of pounds through the event to help the charity continue its care and support for residents with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses.

Organiser Ann Price, a St Richard's fund-raising volunteer who lives in Peopleton, which is between Worcester and Evesham, said: "It's an incredibly popular event.

"Lots of people in the village are involved in helping to run it and we hope to top £5,000 for the hospice this year.

"What started as a small-scale event in my house has grown over the years and is now extremely well supported.

"We have so many people that one of our volunteers is busy making hundreds of mince pies!"

The hospice needs to raise nearly £2m a year to provide all its services and is dependent on voluntary donations.

The charity recently launched a public appeal to build a new £5.25m hospice in Worcester, which will house all its current services provided at Rose Hill, as well as 15 specialist beds, which will be the first of their kind in South Worcestershire.

St Richard's is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and in addition to its 60 staff, it has more than 600 volunteers, many who are specially trained to care for patients.

All its services are free and include a day hospice, home care team, bereavement support, social work, family therapy and counselling, a 24-hour advice line and group for young women with cancer.

The coffee event is set to take place from 10.30am to 2pm and 6.30pm onwards at Peopleton Village Hall.