Ex-Corrie and West End star Susie Blake made her way to Bedfont to help launch charity Marie Curie's Blooming Great Tea Party campaign.

Susie, who stars in hit show Wicked, joined forces with Marie Curie Cancer Care nurse Hope Price to encourage the people of Hounslow to raise money by holding tea parties.

Hope, who has been a Marie Curie nurse for 24 years and who was previously a nurse at King's College Hospital for 40 years, said Marie Curie nurses are vitally important to the community.

"These nurses are vital for families, it makes all the difference to whether a terminally-ill person can stay in their own home," the gran-of-four told the Chronicle.

"I normally work from 10pm to 7am, at a time when many people need care but when their families need sleep. Our nursing care - it just makes all the difference to these families."

Hope is organising a tea party with stalls, quizzes and the opportunity to win three tickets to Euro Disney in the garden of her family home, The Vicarage, 9 Hatton Road, Bedfont, Feltham, from 2.30pm to 5pm on Tuesday June 24.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is one of the UK's largest charities, and will provide care to around 27,000 terminally-ill patients in the community and in its hospices this year.

If you would like to hold your own tea party, call 08700 340 040 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/ teaparty for a fundraising pack. To receive further information about fundraising in Hounslow call Claire Moss on 020 7599 7774.