WEST or East was the choice for many shoppers and townsfolk on Friday morning, for the worlds biggest coffee morning, in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Town crier Richard Harris paced up and down the High Street with his familiar Oh yay c

WEST or East was the choice for many shoppers and townsfolk on Friday morning, for the worlds' biggest coffee morning, in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity.

Town crier Richard Harris paced up and down the High Street with his familiar "Oh yay" cry, informing everyone that they had two choices to join in. "We have two coffee mornings for you this morning," he yelled outside the Coral Bookmakers. "The United Reform Church in the West or the alley in the East, either way, you decide."

The alley Mr Harris referred to was next to Sweetlands Butchers where Macmillan supporter Claire Reeves, from Downs Way, was running the annual 'Café in the alley'.

She said: "We raised the fantastic amount of £1422.06 with some more donations still promised.

"As usual, I had a wonderful band of helpers who worked so hard to bring the money in so thank you to Alison, Jackie, Jayne, Joe, Martin, Olive, Trudy and Veronica. Les, once again, entertained everyone with his accordion.

"All of our many raffle prizes and the delicious cakes, pies, Yorkshire puddings and plants were donated by customers, suppliers, friends and family. The money poured in from all directions - even from those unable to come to the event.

"The coffee morning could not take place without the support of Peter Sweetland who, for the 8th year, has let me run riot on his premises, disrupt his staff and shamelessly take his customers' money."

The Dunmow United Reform Church also reported a huge taking on the day, as they served coffee, tea and all the regular cakes, with some special ones thrown in.

In Stebbing, Sarah Lord, who lost her mother to cancer, held her coffee morning up a tree. After opening her house and treehouse, she said: "I have first hand experience of the wonderful work that Macmillan nurses provide, so I could not think of a better way of raising money for people who have to live with cancer.