A brew-loving north Suffolk resident is popping the kettle on to help raise money for people affected by cancer.

Eleanor Houghton, of New Road in Rumburgh, will be running her fourth World's Biggest Coffee Morning at her home in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The annual event is Macmillan's biggest fundraiser and sees millions of pounds raised by people holding a coffee morning to collect donations for the charity.

Mrs Houghton, who lost a close friend to cancer five years ago, said: 'When I lost my friend I thought something I could do to help was to get involved with the coffee mornings. I feel cancer is getting more out and about and it can be a sad event.'

The coffee mornings started in 1990 by a fundraising committee and since then it has raised over �60m. Last year saw 43,000 people sign up, raising over �8m.

Mrs Houghton added: 'There have been a few people in the village who have had Macmillan nurses and I wanted to do something to help support the local community.

'Without us little people doing events like this I think [the charity] would be sadly lacking in funds. It is these events that help to bring in money regularly.'

Although the national event officially takes place on September 30, Mrs Houghton is holding her coffee morning a day earlier to demonstrate how diverse the event can be. It has also become so popular in the local community that people are asking Mrs Houghton when her coffee morning is happening, months in advance.

'It's just evolved and I now have three other friends that help me with it. It's also a good chance for people to get out and get to know other,' she said.

'I will continue do it as long as I can but I may move to the village hall if it gets much bigger. This is an open event and everyone is welcome to come.'

Fundraising manager Holly Lambert, said: 'I'm so pleased that Eleanor has chosen to hold a coffee morning once again for Macmillan. It's great that we have such long standing supporters that people come to expect their coffee morning.

'More than one in three of us will receive a cancer diagnosis at some point in our life but thanks to people like Eleanor and all of the hosts that take part in World's Biggest Coffee Morning, Macmillan can continue to provide medical, practical, emotional and financial support to everybody affected.'

• For more information about the World's Biggest Coffee Morning email coffee@macmillan.org.uk or call 0845 602 1246 or visit http://coffee.macmillan.org.uk

• Mrs Houghton's coffee morning will take place on September 29 from 10am to midday at Fairview Cottage, New Road, Rumburgh, IP19 ONJ. If you cannot attend but would like to donate please write to the same address.