CHARITY was the buzz word at the Pots of Art studio in St Albans when it hosted an open day to raise money for a worthwhile cause.

The day was organised with the help of "doing it for charity" – an organisation which holds fundraising events and this year’s chosen cause is Macmillan Cancer Support.

Amanda Allen, one of the studio members, appealed to the good natured in the city centre and managed to gather a long list of prizes for the raffle.

Pots of Art offered free painting and five stalls were set up inside the Holywell Hill art studio on Thursday including Pheonix Trading greetings cards, Crumbly Wumbly cup cakes, The Little Cheese Cupboard, Insolito Italian handbags and All Fired Up jewellery.

Earlier this month Pots of Art won the Star Award at the Retailer of the Year gala awards evening for going that extra mile in the community.

Amanda said: “After we won the award we thought what can we do to celebrate and we decided to have a fundraising day with doing it for charity.

“Ten per cent of everything which is sold will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support including the money from the sale of raffle tickets.”

She added: “Everybody has been so generous. When I went round all the shops to tell them about the day nearly all of them said they would make a donation. “The raffle would not have been possible without the help of the independent shops in St Albans.

“It's really brought us all together as a shopping community. Macmillan Cancer Support has touched the lives of so many people.”

Kerry Hodgson, of Crumbly Wumbly cakes, said: “It's a very special charity to me because my friend's died mother two years ago and Macmillan nurses provided them with round the clock care.”

Award-winning Pots of Art provides a fun environment for people to create their own designs on undecorated ceramic pottery and stood out in the Retailer of the Year awards for giving disabled groups a chance to come in an enjoy painting sessions.

They host children's and adult parties and sell a wide range of painted pottery including hand-painted plates. Volunteers from 'doing it for charity' will be hosting a Christmas gift fair on Wednesday, November 17 at the Noke Thistle Hotel in Chiswell Green to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

For more information on Pots of Art visit www.potsofart.com