HUNDREDS of people started the day feeling full after the 'Big Breakfast' event in Callington for the Philippines appeal.

Nearly 400 diners paid £5 for breakfast at the town hall, and also gave more than £1,000 in donations raising in total £3,742 for the appeal.

Callington resident Merlyn McGuire, herself a Filipino and spokesperson for the local Filipino community, decided she must do something towards helping the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan and the recent earthquake in her homeland.

Wheels were set in motion to stage the Big Breakfast, which had always proved popular with locals whenever a humanitarian appeal was called for, with catering by the Methodist Church's table tennis club, under the guidance of Tony and Jill Rickard.

The busy kitchen was also helped by a dozen waiters and waitresses, eight of whom were teenagers.

Because of Merlyn's contacts, the seven local Filipino families were joined by 50 to 60 other Filipinos from Bideford, Wadebridge, Tavistock, Launceston and Plymouth, many with personal tragedies to relate, who all enjoyed their 'Full English'.

All proceeds from the event were given to the Catholic Women's League Philippines, an organisation within the Catholic church, which is in direct contact with the Diocese of Samar and Leyte where the devastation occurred.

Thanks were expressed to the many businesses, whose generosity meant overheads were kept low; to the town hall caretaker Martin Mortimer, town crier Tony Stentiford who encouraged the public to visit the town hall; St Mary's Church where a craft fair was also being held to fund-raise for the cause and to everyone who contributed.