An Ulverston charity that provides holidays for families with seriously ill children has received a £5,000 boost from a major retailer.

Alice's Escapes, which was set up as the wish of Alice Pyne who died in 2013 after a six-year battle with cancer, received the grant through SPAR’s Community Cashback scheme.

The charity, which has been running for 12 years, provides holidays for families with seriously ill children or those who have lost a child, across Cumbria and the North West.

Since the charity was set up, almost 500 families have benefited from the support.

Vicky Pennington-Pyne, the founder of Alice’s Escapes, and Alice's mother, received the cheque at SPAR Mountbarrow Road from retailer Ian Flynn.

She said: "We are delighted to receive £5,000 from SPAR.

"I’m a regular in the store and it truly is fantastic to see SPAR supporting small, local charities such as Alice’s Escapes with funding, especially in the current climate, where fundraising is harder than it has ever been.

“Our grant will be spent on providing local families who meet the qualifying criteria to enjoy a holiday together and the funding would cover accommodation, travel, and either food or other attractions.

"I cannot stress just how important breaks are for families in these circumstances and we are grateful for this funding which will allow us to continue providing this resource.”

James Hall & Co. Ltd, SPAR’s primary retailer, wholesaler, and distributor for the North of England, received 3,000 applications from charities and organisations for the Community Cashback initiative.

Philippa Harrington, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: "We had a huge number of entries for SPAR’s Community Cashback this year and it meant selecting winners of the funding was an incredibly difficult decision-making process.

"Alice’s Escapes stood out because of the impact its work delivers, particularly understanding the back story of how the charity came to be.

"We really hope that the funding is well received by the families who will benefit from it, and it is a pleasure to be able to support this wonderful cause."