A CHARITY providing medical equipment for children brought almost 300 supporters to a chocolate extravaganza at Slattery's last week.

John Slattery opened his famous Chocolatier and Patissier shop, in Bury New Road, Whitefield, last week for a 'behind the scenes' evening of demonstrations, tastings and ‘have a go’ sessions, helping to raise over £5,000 for MedEquip4Kids.

Cllr Stella Smith, the Mayor of Bury, and her consort John Smith were among hundreds of supporters who filled the magical three-story building, packed with festive ‘goodies’, for an evening of fundraising in aid of the charity, which supports sick and injured babies and children.

Fundraisers were greeted on arrival with mulled wine and later a well deserved rest in the Mason’s Dining Room, whilst enjoying a coffee with one of Slattery’s homemade mince pies.

Demonstrations and truffle tasting, dipping marshmallows in chocolate, decorating your own reindeer gingerbread and chocolate star lolly were just some of the heavenly attractions on offer, along with competitions to guess the name of a chocolate snowman and the weight of a chocolate Christmas Pudding.

MedEquip4Kids Chief Executive Ghazala Baig said: "We are very grateful to John Slattery and his dedicated staff for their tremendous support at such a busy time of year’.

"Also, many thanks to our student volunteers from Bury and Loreto Colleges for selling raffle tickets to boost our total for the evening."