BREAK out that crockery, put the kettle on, it's time for the World's Biggest Coffee Morning — and you can play a part.

The novel annual event, organised by Macmillan Cancer Support, is now in its 20th year and the appeal has gone out for more venues in West Devon and East Cornwall to join the mammoth fundraiser.

Two new internees at the North Devon, Plymouth and Tamar Valley office of the charity, Maria Abdilla, and Naomi Hammonds, are urging people to help them achieve their goal of holding more than 500 events and raising vital funds to help fund local cancer services.

Maria and Naomi, together with fundraising manager Suzie Warren, aim to improve on the success of 2009 and make this year's 20th anniversary the biggest yet.

The money raised helps to fund valuable local services, including the Mustard Tree at Derriford Hospital. More than 6,000 people in Devon are diagnosed with cancer each year and Macmillan aims to be a source of support, helping with all the things that people affected by cancer want and need.

Suzie said: 'After all, it's not only patients who live with cancer, so Macmillan Cancer Support also help carers, families and communities.

'Last year in Devon, Macmillan gave £100,173 in grants to over 337 families and funded more than 80 cancer care nurses, doctors, therapists and information specialists.

'The help we provide people with cancer is absolutely essential and we want to be able to give support to everyone who needs it. That's why we need to raise more from this year's World's Biggest Coffee Morning than ever before and we hope that Maria and Naomi will help us to do this.'

The World's Biggest Coffee Morning is on Friday September 24.

Venues for the event in the Times circulation area include (all events are on Friday, September 24 unless otherwise stated):

l Tavistock Methodist Church, Chapel Street Tavistock, 10.30am

l Hotel Endsleigh, Milton, Abbot, Sunday September 12, 2pm

l Pillaton Village Hall, Pillaton, 10am

l Gunnislake Public Hall, Saturday September 25, 9am to 2.30pm

l Albaston WI, Tamar Valley Methodist Church, 10.30am

l Angela Minshull, Orchard Cottages, Venn House, Lamerton, 10am.