THE Forest and Wye Valley raised thousands of pounds for the Macmillan cancer charity with dozens of coffee mornings.

Among those taking part in the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning were X Factor singer Russell Jones who entertained visitors to Caldicot Castle including children from Dewstow Primary School in the town.

They particularly enjoyed his medley of songs from Disney’s Jungle Book.

Children from Lydbrook Primary School also got into the spirit with a series of songs at one of three events in the village.

Pupils from the reception class included food-themed songs when they sang at Lydbrook Community Club.

The event at the club, along with others at the Jovial Colliers and Forge Hammer pubs raised a combined total of £2,128.

Russell Jones, who was seen on TV on Saturday progressing to the next round of X Factor, thanked everybody who had supported the event at Caldicot Castle which raised more than £1,000 in memory of Hayley Wood and Maureen Greenway who both died of breast cancer.

Among the schools taking part was the Dean Academy in Lydney where a cake bake raised £85 for the charity.

Members of the student council were given the enjoyable task of judging the entries and were very impressed with the standard of baking.

The unanimous winner was pastoral assistant Darianne Barnett who baked Nutella brownies.

Assistant director of learning support Anna McCoy, who organised the bake-off, said: “We have had another successful year holding a Macmillan coffee morning.

“The bake-off entries were amazing and our students had a very difficult task in judging the tasty bake.

“I cannot thank

staff at the Dean Academy enough for their support, contributions of cake, and donations.”