A BARROW property firm will donate over £1,000 to the town's foodbank, after holding a festive fundraising event at one of its development sites - just a stone's throw from BAE Systems.

Maritime Apartments held the Christmas charity event last Tuesday evening at Maritime Gardens, helping to raise almost £1,500.

The firm's general manager, Nicole Wilson, said: "We raised £488.42 and Maritime Apartments will be tripling this amount to a total of £1465.26 to donate to the Barrow Food Bank."

The Ormsgill School Choir soundtracked the event with Christmas carols, while local businesses provided raffle prizes including free entry tickets to the Barrow Raiders' ground, as well as vouchers from Olive Tree Cafe, Fine Fellas Lounge Barber Shop, the Estee Lauder make-up store at Debenhams and Little Subs children's centre.

Dawn Hubbold, Assistant Head at Ormsgill School, said: "We were invited to come along and sing Christmas carols at the Maritime Gardens to try and help everyone get in the Christmas spirit. It was a lovely social event and it was great to go over to Barrow Island for it."

"I'd like to say a thank you to Maritime Apartments on behalf of the school for inviting us. The children really enjoyed singing and staying to see the Christmas lights switch-on. It was great to be able to support this vital cause and to raise money for Barrow Foodbank"

There was also a Santa's grotto, with BAE Systems' Craig Clow - husband to Maritime's Lauren Clow - dressing up as jolly St Nick.

Claire Coulthurst, Barrow Foodbank's Deputy Project Manager, said: "Barrow foodbank sees a huge uplift in demand in the run up to Christmas. We rely on our generous community for food donations and financial support to cover our running costs. Fundraisers like the Christmas lights switch-on...are much appreciated - the event was a great evening for local families and also provided much needed support for the Foodbank."

"Thank you to everyone at Maritime Apartments for organising this event and to all in our community who are fundraising and collecting donations this Christmas."