THE clinking of coffee cups could be heard in Worcester at a special event to raise money for End Polio Now.

Love was in the air at the Rotary Club of Worcester's fifth annual coffee morning in the Guild Hall on February 14, which raised £383 for the cause.

Mayor Pat Agar attended along with many rotarians and enjoyed a selection of home-made cakes, hot drinks and books for sale.

Rotarian Hilary Day, who organised the event with fellow member Anne Pooley, said: "It was a nice occasion, the Mayor came she stayed for a long time and spent lots of money.

"She chatted to people, she's a nice lady. We sold everything, we were pleased. We did very well. It made the Guild Hall a busy, chatty place."

Since Rotary began its PolioPlis Programme, the number of countries where the disease is endemic has declined from 125 in 1985 to just four - Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Nigeria.

It is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus and there is is no known cure, it can only be prevented through immunisation.

"We don't want Polio rearing its ugly head again," added Mrs Day. "Without the vaccine people might still pick it up."