CHARITY coffee mornings at Dorset care homes featured a Willy Wonka-style twist.

Events hosted at Colten Care homes in Poole and West Moors raised money for Macmillan Cancer Research.

Residents, staff and visitors raising a mug at the annual charity get-togethers were served freshly-prepared homemade cakes and pastries.

But at each of homes, chefs baked one of the tasty treats as a Golden Cup Cake, containing a hidden layer of edible gold leaf through the middle only to be revealed when the cake was bitten into.

The lucky recipient won a bottle of bubbly, chocolates and a donation to Macmillan on their behalf.

“I couldn’t quite believe it was the golden one,” said Pamela Kately, the winner at Canford Chase in Poole.

Meanwhile, more than 100 cup cakes were baked by Chef Izzy Turczyn-Kuzma at The Aldbury in Poole, with housekeeping colleague Michael Sheppard receiving the golden prize.

And at Brook View in West Moors, the cup cake winner was visitor Hannah Kirby, who had only just arrived to visit her grandfather, Harry.

At Brook View in West Moors, Dorset, the winner of the Golden Cup Cake prize was visitor Hannah Kirby, granddaughter of resident Harry. With Hannah are Companion Christine Dunscombe and Hannah’s partner, Leigh

Moments after making her coffee morning donation along with partner Leigh, Hannah bit into the cake and saw the gold, prompting cheers all round.

Hannah, who was then presented with her bottle of bubbly, said: “I didn’t realise what it was at first and wondered what I had found in the middle. It was a lovely surprise.”

As well as the Golden Cup Cake search, the coffee mornings featured mufti days for staff, guess-the-weight-of-the-cake games, cake sales, singalongs and dances.

At The Aldbury, two musicians from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra – violinist Jennifer Curiel and pianist and French horn player Kevin Pritchard – performed popular classical pieces and childhood songs such as Run Rabbit Run.

Among the residents singing and dancing along were Mary Cooper, Elizabeth Kay and Win Clowerly.

At Canford Chase for the Macmillan Coffee Morning are, from left: resident Janet Wolstenholme, Colten Companion Madeleine Baker and resident Betty Aitchison

Fellow resident at The Aldbury, Abdu ‘Hobi’ Sabih, did his bit to collect donations. He helped Companion Melissa Siat Caparros to push the fundraising cake trolley around the home, chatting with residents, staff and visitors.

Elaine Farrer, Colten Care’s chief operating officer, said: “We always support the Macmillan Coffee Morning with all 21 of our homes taking part.

“It’s a fantastic community initiative. We invite families, friends and local contacts to come and join us for a coffee social and enjoy the fun. The prospect of winning a golden cupcake adds even more interest.”

With the fundraising cake trolley at The Aldbury are, from left: resident Gren Braybrook, Companionship Team member Melissa Siat Caparros and residents Joan Perrin and Abdu ‘Hobi’ Sabih

All smiles for the Macmillan Coffee Morning at Brook View are, from left, Colten Companion Christine Dunscombe, Companionship Team Leader Lauren Parrett and Clinical Lead Mel Berry

Jackie Cornish, left, daughter of Brook View residents Len and Diana Pearce, on her visit to the West Moors home for the Macmillan Coffee Morning

Resident Pamela Kately won the Golden Cupcake prize at Canford Chase in Poole. With her is Chef Mark Hubbard

Enjoying the Macmillan Coffee Morning at Canford Chase in Poole are residents, from left, Yvette Bone, Anne Hammond and Barbara Rivett