When two Cromer businessmen decided to Go Sober in aid of a cancer charity they did not realise the support they would get from customers and friends.

Sam Grout, who runs the Old Rock Shop Bistro in Hamilton Road, and Mr in and Laurie Scott from Breakers Café in Garden Street have so far raised more than £2,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support with the total still rising.

They initially just agreed to sponsor each other for an October month of abstinence.

For Mr Scott that also meant refusing to eat his favourite Steak and Guinness Pie.

He has decided to carry on into November but has promised his partner Ema that he will celebrate her special birthday on December 8 with a glass or two of bubbly.

And Mr Grout said no to alcohol free lager, feeling it would be letting the side down by drinking a substitute for the real thing. Instead he switched to tonic water.

Both agreed the felt better for their alcohol-free month. Although neither has lost any weight they do they say feel more energetic, more focused and have enjoyed the experience.

And both were overwhelmed by the support they received from sponsors.

They thanked people for their generosity saying Macmillan Cancer Support was an amazing charity and one that all to often touched people personally or through friends and loved ones.

Both said they would be prepared to do the challenge again and that it had changed their drinking habits.

Mr Grout said he would try and maintain a sensible level of drinking, making the point that 'you don't always have to drink alcohol to enjoy yourself.'

Mr Scott agreed, adding: 'It is all to easy to end up drinking too much when out with friends but I have learnt that keeping the alcohol levels low does not diminish the fun its much more about the people you are with than the drinks you consume.'

Macmillan Cancer Support's Sober October has to date raised over £3m with some 100,800 people taking part.

Go Sober is just one of the many fundraising events organised by the charity to find out more visit www.macmillan.org.uk

Have you got a charity fundraising story? Email nnn.news@archant.co.uk