HUNDREDS of pupils have pulled out all the stops to organise a massive coffee morning in support of Macmillan Cancer Relief.

About 800 students from St John's Roman Catholic School, Bishop Auckland, took part in the charity's World's Biggest Coffee Morning yesterday.

The event took place during morning break and lunchtime at the school and it is hoped that it will raise about £200.

Organiser Linzi Heads, who is the school's learning resource centre manager, said: "This is the third year we have taken part.

"We do it because it is a good cause and it makes the students aware of what the Macmillan nurses do."

She added: "We have had fantastic support from both the students and staff and everybody seems to enjoy taking part."

Meanwhile, youngsters at West Cornforth Primary School also took part in the Macmillan event and managed to raise more than £160 for the charity.

Shannon Marshall, ten, said: "We wanted to take part in the coffee morning because all the money raised goes to the nurses that help people with cancer. We want them to get better and we realise how lucky we are to be healthy."

The Co-operative Funeral Service, Crook, raised £202.12 from a coffee morning it staged in aid of the event, which sees coffee mornings held nationwide.