Estate agents exchanged cakes instead of keys as businesses brought out the bake-off spirit for Macmillan.

Today marked the 25th anniversary of the Macmillan coffee morning and Gravesend channelled its inner Mary Berry, and let gastronomic juices flow, to raise money for the cancer charity.

Sealeys estate agents, Marie’s Tea Room, Coffee Republic and Priscilla’s Pantry all put on an array of teas, coffees, cakes and other homemade treats in effort to celebrate the cause.

Staff at Sealeys, in Clive Road, supplied a fine spread of sweet and savoury snacks with the help of colleagues gifted with culinary clout.

Senior administrator, Catherine Cumberland, explained Macmillan was a cause close to the team’s heart.

She said: “A lot of us have had relatives who suffered with cancer so we wanted to help a charity that supported those people.

“All the cakes we have are homemade, two of my colleagues are trained chefs so it was a chance for them to show off their skills.

“The gypsy tart has been particularly popular and the Victoria sponge has gone down the best so far. As far as money raised, I don’t think we’ve got a target, we just want people to donate what they can.”

While sponge and tart were going down a storm at Sealeys, a different treat was the cake of choice of Marie’s Tea Room in High Street.

Staff had fundraised all week but kitchen assistant Liam West said they had no target in mind.

He said: “We’ll just be happy to fill up the collection box, we’ve had it out since Monday so people have been popping by the till and dropping in some change.

“The lemon drizzle cake has been the most popular so far today, we’ve had to get another one out because it all went.”

Away from the peaceful environment of the Heritage Quarter, Coffee Republic, in the town centre’s bustling New Road, also did its bit for Macmillan.

Staff set up a stall with cupcakes and chocolate brownies for people to tuck into while they sipped their lattes and cappuccinos.

Manager Maggie Jaycock said: “I thought it would be a nice thing to do for charity and members of staff have got involved and prepared homemade cakes, which was really nice.

"We haven’t been overrun but people have been having a little nibble of what we have on offer. I’m not sure how much we’ll make but it would be nice to fill the collection box up.”

For information on Macmillan’s coffee morning log on to www.coffee.macmillan.org.uk