A SPOON full of sugar boosted a coffee morning held in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The coffee shop in the Marks and Spencer store in Colchester High Street was among the venues taking part in the world's biggest coffee morning.

And youngsters from North Primary School in Colchester kept drinkers entertained with a musical performance including a song from the Disney classic Mary Poppins.

They were also joined by pupils from St James' School in Colchester who also delighted audiences with their songs.

Representatives from the newspaper sales team of the Gazette and its sister paper, the Essex County Standard, were on hand to give out goody bags in return for a donation to Macmillan Cancer Support.

And the coffers were further boosted as Dean Monks, who works in the coffee shop, had his chest waxed in return for donations while food manager Robert Pickles had his legs waxed for the charity's funds.

Paula, who is the retail development co-ordinator for Newsquest Essex, said: "There was really good support. It was a busy morning and we had some heavy buckets at the end of it."

Anna Frost, the hospitality manager for the Colchester branch of Marks and Spencer, has taken part in the world's biggest coffee morning at the store for four years.

She said 10p from every cup of coffee or piece of cake went towards the charity collection.

She added: "It was a lovely morning."

Coffee cakes and donations also added up to a successful morning as an accountancy firm took part in the world’s biggest coffee morning.

Richard Edwards Group LLP held the event at their office in Rosemary Lane, Halstead.

Staff and friends baked cakes, biscuits and savoury treats to raise money for the fundraisers in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Practice manager Wendy Britton said: “We were also well supported by local eateries. Humes bakery donated a beautiful cake, which was raffled during the morning and the Little Book Café gifted a carrot cake to sell.

“We also offered a take away service for people who couldn’t stay very long.

“The morning itself was an absolute triumph.

“We were inundated with visitors throughout the morning and boxes of cakes were leaving the office so quickly that we had to re-stock boxes mid-morning.”

The sweet treat raised a total of £1,120.