HAMPSHIRE-born BBC Radio 1 presenter Matt Edmondson has shown his support for those battling breast cancer by joining the £1 Million Tea Party.

The star, who has 179,000 followers on Twitter, has urged everyone across the county to eat cake and have a cuppa in a bid to open The Haven in Wessex specialist centre currently being built in Titchfield, which will offer free support to anyone affected by breast cancer.

Matt, originally from Portsmouth, who presents from 10am every Saturday and Sunday, told the Daily Echo: “What's better than eating cake? Eating cake for a good cause! As if you ever needed an excuse...

“My cake of choice was a classic chocolate sponge, accompanied by hot chocolate with whipped cream. If it’s got the word ‘chocolate’ in it, I’ll almost certainly get involved.” The £1 Million Tea Party takes place from February 9-16 and everyone from schoolchildren to pensioners are being urged to join in, whether it means organising a get-together for 100 or taking a ‘selfie’ and donating while enjoying a tea break alone.

Launched by TV presenter Sally Taylor, the Hampshire charity hopes to raise £1m in order to pay for the running costs when the centre opens this autumn.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer can self-refer to the grade II listed building, where they can talk to experts about everything from financial worries to nutrition, receive a tailormade programme of complementary therapies such as yoga and acupuncture, and meet others battling cancer.