HE is Hampshire’s gardening guru but even presenter Alan Titchmarsh has taken time out to raise his bone china cup to take a stand against breast cancer.

Today hundreds of people across the county are gearing up for day one of The Haven in Wessex £1 Million Tea Party – and the celebrity gardener and author is the latest high-profile name to lend his support and call for others to get involved.

The week-long event will raise the funds needed for a specialist breast cancer centre set to open in Titchfield this autumn, which will provide free support to anyone affected by the disease.

Mr Titchmarsh, who is the Chancellor of the University of Winchester, has joined celebrities including BBC Radio 1 DJ Matt Edmondson, South Today’s Sally Taylor and actress Sarah Parish by sending in a snap enjoying a cuppa for the charity campaign.

He told the Daily Echo: “It’s a brilliant way of doing your bit for breast cancer awareness. Lapsang, Earl Grey or builders? Whatever your cup of tea.”

From toddler groups to pensioners, it isn’t too late to get involved in the party which ends next Monday according to the Hampshire charity.

There is no running involved, no need to jump out of a plane or even trek up one of the world’s highest mountains.

The biggest fundraiser of this year’s calendar for breast cancer charity The Haven in Wessex simply calls for you to relax, pop the kettle on and eat cake, whether that is with a big group or simply alone with a text donation.

The Haven will offer those battling breast cancer a place to get support. Anyone who has been affected by breast cancer will be able to self-refer to the centre where they will be able to talk to experts about everything from financial worries to nutrition, receive a tailor-made programme of complementary therapies such as yoga and acupuncture and meet others battling cancer.

Already the county has shown cancer patients they are not alone by backing the campaign, including cast members from Hairspray and Circus of Horrors, Hampshire models and even Southampton dockers.