When the Women's Institute (WI) sent out a national appeal to its members to raise two million pounds to support the organisation's Denman College in Oxford, a local branch came up with an innovative way to pay their share.

The committee of Blundeston and Flixton WI decided to ask one of its members, Barbara Shaw, to arrange a chocolate demonstration for which she is well known.

Mrs Shaw said: 'We charged £5 entry and of course had a raffle and raised just over £420, the institute made this up to £450, which was a brilliant result. The demonstration showed how to produce homemade chocolates and sweets including Chocolate Surprises, Truffles and Coffee Creams. While whipping up these delights I regaled the audience with light hearted jokes.'

At a recent meeting held in Blundeston Village Hall, Jane Collier, a member of the Board of Suffolk East WI Federation was presented with the cheque by President Christine Goldson.