BRIGHT stars were celebrated at an event that saw thousands of pounds given out to help young people.

Millom’s Beggar’s Theatre was the setting as talents including sporting stars and musical prodigies from the area received grants from A Skye Full of Stars.

The charity was set up by Sharon Fry, the mother of 18-year-old beauty queen and campaigner Skye Mitchell (right), who was killed alongside her friend Caitlin Huddlestone in a car accident in 2017.

Since then Ms Fry has taken to raising money to help young people realise their dreams in honour of her daughter’s memory.

After handing out the latest grants, which totalled £2,400, Ms Fry: “I just want to help out people in the area.

“I want to carry on the work that Skye did.

“It’s just like what she would have wanted.”

Esme Holliday, an 18-year-old Salford University TV and radio student received £200.

She said: “Skye has always been an inspiration to me. She has the most beautiful personality and was gorgeous inside and out.

“Thanks to A Skye Full of Stars I can use the money they kindly gave to me to enhance my university experience and it is lovely to know Skye is looking over me and guiding me through.”

The other recipients of money included Millom Children’s Choir, who got £1,000.

Champion BMXer Emie Seward and her brother Jayden, aged 13 and eight, were each given £200 to help with travel expenses.

Robyn Loney, 16, and Ben High, also 16, received the same amount towards a £4,500 school trip to Borneo in 2020.

Cumbria Youth Orchestra members Tess Cullen, 14, and Natasha McQuire, were given money so they could travel to Carlisle to rehearsals.