Over 100 local people recently attended the annual Ellesmere Shoppers’ Lunch, to socialise together as well as to raise more than £1,300 for older people in north Shropshire and the local Parish Church.

Now in its third year, the event, was again organised by members of the Age UK North Shropshire Supporters and St. Mary’s Parish Church, with all the food donated by members of the community or local businesses.

This year again, the local Tesco in Ellesmere donated the salads’ produce, Vermulens, the delicious crusty bread and Belton Cheese generously donated a cheese-board which was also enjoyed my many of the guests.

From early in the morning, an army of volunteer members of the joint organising committee were to be found at the Town Hall, preparing the tables and ensuring that everything was ready for the lunch.

Ellesmere College supported the event with the loan of crockery and cutlery. Then late morning, guests began to arrive to find a table, visit the stalls and socialise over a drink at the bar. Raffle tickets were also on offer to help to augment the fundraising element of the event and donations of prizes had been received from a variety of sources including from Morris Cooke in Ellesmere.

The buffet lunch offered a huge selection of choice and the array of homemade desserts were a great hit. Sian Griffiths, the local Tesco Community Champion, was again present to help serve the Lunch.

Sena Parry, the Age UK North Shropshire Supporters’ chairman said: "Besides the amazing support from the volunteer committee members who spent much time planning the event, donating much of the food on offer and organising the day itself, thanks must also go to Ismay Evans at Ismay’s Clothing and Anne Harris for their combined stalwart efforts to sell the majority of the tickets."

The event was very well-received by those partaking in the lunch and with minimal event costs, more than £1,300 was raised.

This amount has been split equally between St. Mary’s Church, Ellesmere and Age Uk North Shropshire Supporters to go towards the support services available to older people in the North of the County.