HOT drinks and homemade cakes are normally essential elements of any successful fundraising coffee morning.

But in one North Yorkshire village residents are hoping to draw the crowds with an unusual choice of venue.

Villagers raising money for Macmillan Cancer Relief at Marton, near Pickering, will be clearing out the plant pots and finding a new home for the lawnmower - because they are holding their coffee morning in a garden shed.

Veronica Piercy, one of a group of residents who meet regularly for the Marton Mornings, admitted the shed was not the most luxurious location.

She said: "It has no electricity and no windows in it, but we will be providing hot coffee.

"We will have torches if we want to shut the door, but we might leave it open."

The venue has been put forward in a competition run by the York branch of Macmillan Cancer Relief, with prizes on offer for the most unusual coffee morning venue.

York appeal manager Alex Elmsley said they were keen to hear about any other coffee mornings taking place in unusual places.

She said: "If anyone wants any information about Macmillan, or wants to register a coffee morning, they can phone me on 01904 756402.

The fundraising coffee morning will be held on Tuesday, from 10am to 11.30am, in the garden shed behind the Mission Room at Marton, and anyone is welcome to attend.

Updated: 10:08 Saturday, September 21, 2002