SCHOOL cook Rosie Strickland has vowed to hang up her fundraising apron after serving up thousands of bowls of soup in aid of Musgrove Park Hospital.

Over the last five years she has held a successful soup kitchen once a year in Winsford Village Hall and this year's gathering last Thursday was no exception.

So far, the 200 plus diners have raised more than £2,600, tucking in to 11 different varieties of soup, all made by Rosie and her family.

She said the event was her way of trying to give something back to the hospital, which cared for both her son when he was ill and her sister, who died of cancer.

Over the years, the soup kitchen has raised £8,350 for Musgrove and this year's total will be split between the hospital's haematology ward and the intensive therapy unit.

"It's been a lot of hard work and I know it brings in a lot of money, but I think the time is now right to call it a day," Rosie said.

Photo: Steve Guscott.