The owner of an Okehampton tea rooms has marked her 60th birthday by asking family and friends to make a donation in lieu of presents, and to take part in a sponsored morris dancing session, to raise money for diabetes charity, DIRECT.

Margaret Allin owns the Victorian Pantry Tea Rooms at Museum Courtyard in Okehampton. Margaret has coped with diabetes for most of her adult life and has had to inject insulin to control her condition.

Margaret is an 'expert patient' and understands diabetes, its impact on people's lives, the need for first class facilities for people with diabetes and the importance of future research that will improve the quality of their lives.

She said: 'In the early years after I was diagnosed I was treated at Exeter and saw at first-hand the work supported by DIRECT and the excellent facilities it has funded, including the Diabetes Centre at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.

'When my 60th birthday came round I decided to celebrate with my family and friends from Cogs and Wheels Morris Dancers and to use the event to raise some funds for the DIRECT project.'

By doing this, Margaret has been able to raise £820 for DIRECT.

DIRECT is now a distinct project within the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and its fundraising is managed by the Peninsula Medical School Foundation.

Alice Cooper, fundraising manager for the DIRECT project within the Peninsula Medical School Foundation said: 'We are extremely grateful to Margaret, her family and friends for their superb fundraising efforts, and the money they raised will go towards the valuable work funded by DIRECT."

Pictured left to right: Fiona Elsworth, Morris Elsworth, Margaret Allin, David Allin and Janet Adams at the Diabetes Centre, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.