NOT many people like working at Christmas – and very few people would want to do it for nothing.

But Jo and Ron Smith, who own the Beach Hut Cafe at Friars Cliff, have worked every Christmas morning for the past eight years and every penny they’ve made has gone to local charity Macmillan Caring Locally.

The couple and their dedicated staff have raised thousands of pounds for their chosen cause in this way and a visit to their cafe has become a Christmas morning tradition for hundreds of visitors.

Opening for a few hours on Christmas morning normally raises around £2,500 for the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital but last year Jo and Ron raised a staggering £4,500. Keen photographer Ron also produced and sold a calendar for the charity, raising a further £1,600.

Neal Williams, trust secretary for Macmillan Caring Locally, said: “Jo and Ron have been outstanding supporters of the Macmillan Unit for years.

“Their coffee mornings and Christmas Day fundraisers are very popular events and have raised thousands of pounds for us every year.

“These funds have been used in many different ways to support the care of our patients and their families. We are so grateful to Jo, Ron, the Beach Hut Cafe staff and customers for their hard work and amazing generosity.”

Jo said: “We like helping Macmillan Caring Locally because Neal always tells us what he spends the money on, you know exactly where the funds are going.

“Previously we’ve raised money for portable oxygen tanks so people can be treated in their own homes and we’re currently trying to raise money for reclining chairs in the unit.

“We are really lucky that most of our staff will come in and help on Christmas morning and there’s always a really great atmosphere.

“Last year there were customers queued up outside the door before we opened.

“I don’t think we could really stop doing it now, it’s become a bit of an institution.”