A BEACH hut is often the place where keen seasiders sit back with a cuppa and watch the waves crashing in front of them.

One owner went one better by throwing open the doors of hers for charity today.

Karon Foxwell, who lives in Steyning, opened up beach hut 19A on Hove promenade as part of Macmillan Cancer Support's annual fundraiser called the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.

Mrs Foxwell, 52, said: "It was great fun, I loved it. It was the first one but we want to do more. The sun shone and lots of people turned up."

Mrs Foxwell started working with MacMillan after her friend Sara Cutting raised nearly £14,000 for MacMillan by wearing a different hat each day over the past year as she battled breast cancer.

Mrs Foxwell said: "She is truly an amazing woman and she inspired me to do something positive. As much as I can do to help, I will do."

Recognising the benefits time spent in the hut brought to Sara, Karon thought it would be the perfect place for self-help and support groups to meet, offering people affected by cancer some tender care along with tea and cake.

The name Beach Hut Banter was thrown into the mix and, using the coffee morning as a launch, the hut aims to become a hub for cancer sufferers.

The hut has entertained famous people over the years, including Greg Rusedski, has hosted wedding receptions and was recently shortlisted for the annual national Beach Hut of the Year award, and ended in the top ten.

Miss Cutting, whose fundraising efforts have now surpassed the £15,000 mark, was at the hut with other members of local self-help and support groups including Brighton Buddies and Brighton Head and Neck Buddies.

Miss Cutting said: "I thought it was really lovely and we were blessed with the weather.

"The hut is a really nice meeting place and a special place to go."

Joy Ridley of Macmillan Cancer Support was also at the beach hut and said: "It has gone absolutely brilliantly. We have had far more people than we expected and raised about £200.

"We are very grateful to Karon for providing us with the beach hut and very kindly opening it up for support groups."