The sound of kettles boiling and the smell of cakes baking drifted across the city yesterday as homes, businesses, schools and community centres hosted Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning.

The number of events held in and around Norwich doubled from last year's total reached 650 events held in aid of the charity who help improve the lives of people affected by cancer.

With around 5,100 people in Norfolk each year diagnosed with the disease, communities came together to eat cake for the worthy cause.

A 13-year-old Sprowston Community High School student Tamara Edwards, of Rushmore Road, Sprowston, 13, held her own coffee morning at the school in memory of her two grandmothers who died from cancer.

With the help of her friends, family and teachers, she raised around �400 for the charity, and thanked all those who helped her organise the morning.

She said: 'I know the money will help people who are suffering with cancer and that my nannies would be proud of me.'

Students at City College Norwich raised more than �300 from their morning of coffee and cakes.

Staff and students brought in the goods baked at home, and sold them.

Organiser Jo Bygrave said she decided to take part because the Macmillan cause is close to her heart.

She said: 'Having lost family members to cancer and more recently having a very close family member being seriously ill, I have found Macmillan very supportive - they are a very worthwhile cause.

'This morning has just been fantastic and the support from colleagues at the college has been tremendous.'

Meanwhile over at Magdalen Gates First School on Bull Close Road, staff and parents were treated to a visit from the Lord Mayor, Ralph Gayton, who went to the school himself, as well as raising over �200 for the charity.

Lesley Veness, 57 from Leonards Street in north Norwich, is a dinner lady at the school and has been organising the coffee mornings there for the last 12 years.

She said the school have lost two dinner ladies to cancer as well as members of staff, so she said the charity is 'close to the school's heart'.

Helen Chapman, the fundraising manager for Norwich, visited various morning in the area, and said the response has been 'amazing'.

She said: 'It's been great to hear people's stories about how Macmillan have supported them and their families, and it makes me really proud to be a part of the event.'

- Send photos and details of your event, as well as how much you raised, to www.iwitness24.co.uk