A TRAFFORD chain store has made a donation of more than £40,000 to a Didsbury hospice.

The Range, which has a store in Altrincham, donated a total of £40,687 towards Francis House Children's Hospice, which will fund the day-to-day care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions and short term respite for their families.

A spokesman for the firm, which sells home, garden and leisure products, said: “We are delighted to be able to donate to such a good cause and to be able to give something back to the community, especially to a charity that relies heavily on voluntary contributions.”

Francis House offers its care and support for the whole family in the Greater Manchester area including Trafford.

David Ireland, chief executive of Francis House Children’s Hospice said: “We are really grateful to have been considered for this wonderfully generous donation. It came out of the blue and at a time when all children’s hospices are experiencing cash flow problems.

"It will be used very effectively, currently out of every £1 spent 83p goes directly towards the care of the children and young adults. A donation of this size pays for a registered nurse for a whole year.”

Francis House services are free of charge to families that need them. It offers services to children and their families but relying primarily on the generosity of the public and its corporate supporters and volunteers, to continue its work.