CAMMELL Laird's staff, management and subcontractors have helped raise £12,000 for two local hospices.

Funds raised by the Birkenhead firm's Christmas charity appeal have been split between Claire House and Liverpool-based Zoe's Place Baby Hospice.

Over the last seven years, staff and management raised thousands for local charities.

Cammell Laird spokesperson Joanne Bird said: "Staff have again been hugely generous.

"The initiative which began seven years ago has gone from strength to strength.

"It started with a group of Shipwrights donating their lottery winnings and has escalated to the whole workforce and subcontractors raising funds with the company generously matching the workforce collection.

"Claire House and Zoe's Place are two very important and worthwhile causes. The cash will go some way to funding the vital work they do."

Zoe's Place is the only Baby Hospice in the UK. It provides one-to-one respite and palliative nursing care for infants aged 0-5 years with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

Claire House provides specialist respite and end of life care for children and young adults with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions as well as support for the whole family via their hospice to home service.

Both charities need to raise £2.5m a year to survive.