A BRACE of fundraising events are being staged in West Devon in the coming months, to support the work of Operation Sunshine.

A summer lunch and auction is taking place at the home of West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox and his wife, Jeanie at Willestrew, Lamerton in September.

Mr Cox is a keen supporter of Operation Sunshine, which supports desperately poor people in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, including those in refugee camps, leper colonies, hospitals, orphanages, schools and remote villages. The charity sends donated goods in containers and receives feedback from those people organising their distribution.

The charity featured in the MP's Christmas cards last year.

Mr Cox said: 'It's a wonderful charity that does incredibly valuable work for communities in Africa.

'My wife and I are delighted to welcome the charity to our home and we hope as many people as possible will come along and support the event.'

One of the organisers of the summer lunch and auction, David Philpott, said he had high hopes the event would be very popular.

Tickets for the lunch on September 13 cost £12.50 and are available from David Philpott on 01822 610484.

The charity is also organising a fondue evening in October — and this week issued an appeal for fondue sets and forks.

Another six fondue sets are needed for the event which is taking place at the Memorial Hall, Yelverton.

The proceeds from the fondue evening will help pay the shipping costs for containers being sent to Africa.

Last October, another fondue evening held in Tavistock raised £800 for Operation Sunshine.

Tickets for the event cost £8.50. To buy a ticket or lend a fondue set, contact David Phillpott on 01822 610484 or Sue Savage 01822 853572.