A WIRRAL charity which takes children with life-limiting ilnesses on special trips to Lapland has received the Queen's Award for voluntary services.

Every December, Northern Lights takes a group of children, aged between six and 11, on a five-day holiday to the Arctic Circle to meet Father Christmas.

The charity, founded in 1988, was assessed for Queen's Award by the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire. The award is the highest given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

Created in 2002 to celebrate the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation, it is the MBE for volunteer groups.

Alan Johnson, the charity's secretary and father of Christopher whom the charity was set up in memory of, said: "The holidays provided by Northern Lights give the children an opportunity to forget, albeit for a short while, about their health problems.

"It's great to watch their faces light up with pleasure as they are being whisked along on sleds pulled by huskies, driven around on snowmobiles, pulled in sleds by reindeer, tobogganing and being presented with presents by the 'real' Santa.

"Something about the time spent in Lapland seems to give them renewed strength to carry on fighting their own particular illnesses.

"Consultants often ask 'what do you do whilst in Lapland?' because the children often come back more confident and independent.

"In truth, we do not know, but these holidays seem to provide a useful component in the treatment of these awful illnesses and as a charity we are very proud to have played a small part in this role and delighted to have been awarded the QAVS."

Karen Jones, chairman and founding member of Northern Lights, said: "We are honoured and delighted to have been acknowledged for our work within the local community benefitting children with life-limiting illnesses in the North West of England.

"When the charity was founded in 1987 (as the Christopher Johnson Fund), we had no idea that nearly 30 years later we would still be sending children with life-limiting illnesses on these wonderful holidays.

"I would like to thank the committee members of Northern Lights both past and present for their tireless work in raising funds and for all the support we have received from everyone in Neston and the local community together with all our supporters countywide."