A FIRST to be included in the annual Big Breakfast celebrated in Ledbury was the Syrian themed breakfast brunch held at Handley Organics to raise funds for the Syrian Refugee Campaign.

The Syrian themed breakfast proved very popular and was well attended. The small dining area upstairs in Handley Organics was crowded with those keen to try something different and on offer were honeyed figs, syrup dates and other fruits and yoghurts, mezza, halva, hummus, flatbreads, salads, labneh (cheese traditionally eaten for breakfast), shanklish (cheese usually made from goats milk, with various herbs), falafel, makdous (aubergine/stuffed eggplant dish), cardamom beverages and fruit juices and more.

Customers were able to eat in or take away. The atmosphere was one of festive cheer and the deputy mayor, Keith Francis visited as did the colourful figure of the Ledbury Town Crier, 'Bill the Bell' Turberfield, along with councillor Liz Harvey and her family.

Organics owner, Caroline Handley featured twice on local radio and her team of volunteers worked extremely hard and acquired a whole new set of skills by assisting with this new venture and the magnificent sum of £530 was raised.