COFFEE will be served with a difference on seven P&O Stena Line ferries when passengers raise their cups to the Meningitis Trust during a coffee morning get-together at sea on Friday (March 1).

Thousands of ferry passengers will have the chance to join the charity's national coffee morning fund-raising event as they make the crossing between Dover and Calais.

The event's official sponsor, Kenco, will supply the onboard coffee shop, Harbour Coffee Company, with the necessary ingredients - and all the funds raised from the seven separate Channel crossings will go towards the fight to beat the devastating illness.

Simon Smith, P&O Stena Line's spokesman, said: "The Dover to Calais coffee morning will help raise vital funds to fight a dreadful illness which can strike anyone at any age."