TALK about getting all fired up for a good cause.

Blackpool Tower bosses got a bit hot under the collar last Friday (September 28) as the "World's Biggest Coffee Morning" for the Macmillan Windmill Appeal was held up for more than an hour as fire broke out on the fifth floor just after 11am.

Three fire crews rushed to the scene to find a small chip range in Horace Harbuckle's restaurant had caught fire causing smoke damage but was quickly isolated by Tower staff.

The crowds gathering for an afternoon show from Danny La Rue and pals were evacuated onto Bank Hey Street until given the all clear at 1pm and then the kettle was back on and the fun began.

Blackpool Mayor, Sue Wright, was happy to lead the way in a quickstep with husband and consort Stan to the sounds of Blackpool Big Tower Band.

She said of the fundraising event for Blackpool's new cancer unit: "It's been quite a dramatic morning, but it is lovely to see so many people in the Tower. This was always my favourite ballroom as a girl."

Windmill appeal director Elaine Fossett officially welcomed the 200-strong crowd and apologised for the wait before introducing the star turn Mr La Rue himself.

A quick rendition of Mother Kelly's Doorstep and then Danny auctioned off two tickets to his Palladium Nights show with champagne backstage afterwards for £125.

He then went on to say: "I devote a lot of time to this cause as my brother died very quickly of this terrible disease.

"With all the troubles of the world it seems insignificant, but more people die of this than were killed in America."

Joan Humble, MP for Blackpool North, said: "I am very pleased to have been invited to participate in this novel fundraising event. Only in Blackpool would it be possible to put on such an event which I hope adds substantial funds to enable the appeal to progress successfully."

Entertainment also came from Richard De Vere, Johnny Casson, Tony Jo of the Grumbleweeds, Legends star Laine Kennedy and Tiptoes Theatre School.

Scores of other coffee mornings also took place around the Fylde Coast

FYLDE coffee lovers raised £365 at the World's Biggest Coffee Morning in the Town Hall, St Annes, last Friday with donations and a raffle. King Edward VII and Queen Mary School head girl Jo Stephenson also presented a cheque for £1,000 to the Macmillan Windmill Appeal raised from a sponsored cycle ride from Marseilles to Calais. Mayor Pat Fieldhouse would like to thank the 120 people who attended.