A community café in West Cumbria is celebrating its birthday by thanking the local businesses that have supported it over the last 12 months.

Hug A Mug in Maryport is a daily drop-in health and wellbeing café, staffed by trained volunteers, that aims to connect local people to services and support.

It is run by Ewanrigg Local Trust in partnership with Maryport Health Services, and has received support from firms across Cumbria.

Businesses have provided financial support, skills and staff to be trained as volunteers.

They include Sellafield, Kaefer, Atkins, Ansaldo Nuclear, Doosans, Morgan Sindall, Shepley, Amec, Wates Construction, PPM, Sealy UK, Cumberland Building Society, Eddie Shimmings, Richard Mattinson at Stitch and Print, LCD Print and Stitch and Sewn by Janie

Project co-ordinator Ann-Marie Steel said: “Hug A Mug has exceeded all our expectations. The statistics from our first year have been outstanding and we are thrilled to be making huge strides towards meeting the needs of people within our community.

“The initiative has been supported by a wide range of local businesses and we could not have done it without them.

“Several businesses release their staff members to volunteer on a regular basis and they have become invaluable members of the team.

“Our ultimate goal is to raise awareness that the service exists to the general public and also to encourage more businesses in the area to get involved.”

Based in Maryport Health Services' premises, it will be manned by volunteers and open to all the surgery's 13,700 patients to pop in for a cuppa and a confidential chat, with signposting available to other support services.

Mrs Steel added: "It's a very friendly environment where people can come and have a hot drink, chat to the volunteers and get help to find the signposting tools they need to help them address any problems they're experiencing."

The service can help with everything from applying for benefits and tackling housing issues to accessing support for carers.