SHOPPERS have helped Marks & Spencer in Festival Place raise thousands of pounds for charity.

M&S Basingstoke managed to raise £4,000 after a month-long fundraising campaign for Macmillan Cancer Support including their flagship event, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

2017 marks the eighth year that M&S has partnered with Macmillan Cancer Support with over £10 million raised for the charity to date. The efforts of M&S stores and customers helps fund vital support and specialist services for people living with cancer locally. Last year the partnership raised £3.2million - enough to fund 66 Macmillan health care professionals for a year.

Part of the fundraising efforts was a sponsored cycle with staff at the store and others getting on their stationary bikes for a total of two days. Stationed outside the Basingstoke store, they travelled 160 miles overall.

Jo Middleton, store manager, said: “I want to thank both our loyal customers and my M&S colleagues for pulling out all of the stops on the September 29 to help make our Coffee Morning such a huge success. It was great to see Basingstoke locals joining in the fun – all the while helping to raise funds for a hugely worthwhile cause.”

As well as the Coffee Morning event, the store has been helping to raise funds for Macmillan throughout the month of September by donating 10 per cent of each sale from a variety of tasty treats from M&S Foodhalls and all profits from a range of bag accessories designed by artist Rob Ryan.

M&S Cafés have also donated 5p from every hot drink and slice of cake sold throughout September to the charity.