TWO FRIENDS opened up their house for Macmillan Coffee Morning and raised more than £700.

Jo Over, and her friend Lyn Painter opened their house for the third year and raised £742 for Macmillan from their own doorstep.

Jo's house in Causeway, Romsey, is next to the River Test and she held a cake and coffee morning for walkers and nearby residents, as well as selling their crafts and accessories they make for charity.

Jo, a foster carer from Romsey, said: "It all started three years ago, me and Lyn make hand made crafts such as cards and bags, it was just a bit of a hobby.

"We had our first coffee morning and sold items and we raised £308.

"Everything we make is either given to friends and family for free or sold with all proceeds going to charity."

Since Jo's house is on the River Test, they decided it would be a good place for a coffee morning as passers by could stop for a drink and donate.

She said they had strangers say "you have to do it every year, it is in the calender".

Jo added: "We smashed all expectations and raised £742 this year.

"We sold a lot of tickets through the butchers - they held a raffle for a beautiful meat hamper worth £100.

"All tickets sold went towards Macmillan."

Jo's children both work for The Brazen Butchers, Sandy Lane, Braishfield and were keen to help with the coffee morning.

She said strangers were bringing in cake to share, with some stopping for a quick drink and to donate, and some staying for the whole duration between 10am and 2pm.

Jo and Lyn are in discussion as to whether they will host the successful event again next year, she said getting all the stock together for the craft section was a struggle.

A spokesperson from Macmillan said: "Huge thanks to Jo and Lyn for raising such a fantastic amount from their coffee morning.

"World’s Biggest Coffee Morning takes place every year and is a chance for people to get together and raise money so that we can provide physical, financial and emotional support to people living with cancer.

"Because we are funded almost entirely by donations, every penny raised really does make a difference. To find a coffee morning near you, please visit our website https://coffee.macmillan.org.uk/."