A SLAITHWAITE grandmother has staged a marathon coffee morning to raise funds for a church which has a special place in her heart.

Betty Sykes, 76, opened her house at Ainley Place to visitors all day and evening on Wednesday), serving coffee, sandwiches and home-made cakes.

She also held a bring and buy and cake stall at the event, organised to raise funds for Deanhead Church at Scammonden.

The church needs to raise thousands of pounds to restore its organ.

Deanhead Church means a lot to Mrs Sykes – generations of her family have worshipped there and she attended the church school when her family ran the Brown Cow pub at Scammonden.

Later, she married at the church and had her five children christened there.

She said: “We’ve all been married and christened there. The coffee morning was my little contribution towards helping. I have supported the church but never done a fundraising event before.”

Mrs Sykes, who was widowed 20 years ago, is a former farmer’s wife and is renowned for her home-cooking and baking stills.