PENSIONER Betty Mangles won royal approval for a housing scheme's effort towards a fundraising event for cancer patients.

When residents of Runnymede Court, in Bishop Auckland, raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief by joining in the World's Biggest Coffee Morning, a star prize will be a gift from the Queen Mother - a plate commemorating her 100th birthday sent in response to a request from Betty.

Bishop Auckland MP Derek Foster has contributed a House of Commons whisky tumbler to the event, which gets under way at 10am.