ACTRESS Maureen Lipman joined local people for a cuppa and a chat at the World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

Best-known for her role as Beattie in the BT adverts, she was appearing in the play Glorious! at Malvern Theatres.

Invited to attend the Macmillan Cancer Relief event at St James Antiques in Little Malvern, Ms Lipman said she was more than happy to offer her support.

Her husband, playwright Jack Rosenthal, died last year after a long battle with cancer.

"I know what a wonderful job the Macmillan nurses do. They really are angels," said Ms Lipman.

Other cast members from Glorious! also attended the event, along with dozens of local people.

Hans van Wyngaarden, of St James Antiques, described it as "very successful".

Like thousands of coffee mornings all over the country last Friday, it was organised as part of the annual Macmillan fundraising event. There was live music, a sale of antiques and bric-a-brac and a charity auction.

The total raised was £3,500.

John Redfern, a local organiser for the charity, said: "I'm always impressed by the generosity of the people of Malvern everytime we hold the World's Biggest Coffee Morning. So many people do so much to help."

St James Antiques was just one of a host of venues in Malvern doing their bit for Macmillan:

n Pupils at St James's School, West Malvern, made their own cakes and biscuits to sell at their coffee morning. The event attracted dozens of parents and visitors, raised a total of £570.

n Mary Beattie held a coffee morning for friends, family and neighbours at her home at 12 Mead Way, Malvern. This was her seventh coffee morning for Macmillan and it raised £180.

n Santler Court retirement development in Worcester Road, Malvern, held a coffee morning for residents and guests and raised £377.

"Coffee mornings are a regular part of the social life at our developments," said Dave Vallis, spokesman for developers McCarthy and Stone.

"The Macmillan appeal is a great opportunity to dedicate one of them to a really good cause."

n Holland Funeral Service in Barnards Green Road, Malvern, held a coffee morning that started early. It opened at 7.30am, serving coffee, toast and bacon rolls to people who would be at work later but still wanted to join in the fundraiser. The £420 raised will remain in Worcestershire to support local Macmillan teams.

Now in its 15th year, the World's Biggest Coffee Morning is expected to raise more than £6 million.

Last year, £70,000 was raised at coffee mornings in Worcestershire, with more than £5 million raised nationally.