A HOUSE-warming party that can lay claim to being Kendal’s longest ever running has raised £337 for Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

Its hosts, Jean and Bill Leece, have used their get-together to support various local good causes since moving into their home 26 years ago.

Jean explained: “We moved in just before Christmas and needed to get the house in some sort of order for the festive season so didn’t have time for a house warming.

"Instead, we decided to have a belated party to mark our first anniversary, asking family, friends and neighbours round; and every year since then, we’ve kept the date for an open-house celebration."

As well as food and drinks, Jean and Bill have organised an annual raffle and sold Jean’s home knits, home-made cakes, jams and chutneys alongside other goodies donated by guests. Books and clothes have also been sold to boost fundraising.

Rosemere Cancer Foundation works to bring world-class treatments and services to cancer patients throughout south Cumbria and Lancashire.

It does this by funding equipment, research, training and other services that would otherwise be beyond limited NHS resources at Rosemere Cancer Centre, the specialist cancer centre at the Royal Preston Hospital, and at another eight local cancer units including those at Westmorland General Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

To find out more, see www.rosemere.org.uk