A FIVE-course meal created by some of the finest chefs in Furness has raised more than £7,000 for charity.

The professionals donned their whites and aprons for CancerCare's Local Chef Show, which saw more than 170 guests gather at Ulverston's Coronation Hall.

The menu featured:

- parsnip soup by Rachael Lumb, of Gleaston Water Mill, near Ulverston

- monkfish by Nige Bullock of The Mill at Ulverston

- Middle Eastern-style lamb shawarma by Sy Lyon, of the L’al Churrasco tapas and cocktails restaurant in Ulverston

- pig’s cheek in a honey-glaze sauce by chef Stuart Smith, who was one of the event's main organisers

- and dark chocolate parfait by Ash Wood of the Abbey House Hotel, Barrow-in-Furness.

The show was designed to highlight "the wealth of quality cuisine available on the Furness Peninsula".

All the chefs gave their time for free to support CancerCare, which offers free professional therapy for people dealing with life-limiting illnesses such as cancer, and families coping with bereavement.

Ulverston-based actor Gary Gifford hosted the occasion, in the guise of one of his comedy creations, Doris the Dinner Lady.

Diners danced late into the night to live music from the band Rendition.

"This was our first ever chef show and it definitely won’t be our last," said CancerCare’s head of fundraising, Emma Athersmith.

"The reaction from the guests was fantastic and we can’t thank the local community enough for their support.

"Raising £7,000 was fantastic but we also received more than £9,000 in gifts in kind through donations of time, equipment and much more."

Chef Rachael Lumb, of the coffee shop Love at First Bite at Dusty Miller's, at Gleaston Water Mill, said: “It was an absolutely brilliant night.

"I was only too happy to be involved as CancerCare provides invaluable support to people, and I have seen first-hand the difference they can make to people going through a very tough time."

The occasion at the Coro also helped to raise awareness of the charity's new centre, which is to open on Duke Street in Barrow in January 2020.

For more, see www.cancercare.org.uk