LOCAL children's charity CHICKS has received a major financial boost from a giant DIY store.

The Milton Abbot-based charity — which provides free holidays for under-privileged children from inner cities — has been awarded a £5,000 grant after it was successfully shortlisted from more than 4,500 entries to B & Q's community award scheme, the 'You Can Do It' Awards 2002.

Toni Furse, corporate fundraiser for CHICKS, said they were delighted to have won the award and planned to build a landscaped sensory garden to provide a relaxing, therapeutic environment for the children to to enjoy and learn from.

She said: 'The grant has been a real morale boost already.

'For many of the children, an apple is simply bought from the supermarket. With a sensory garden they can learn to pick an apple from the crop and then turn it into a delicious apple pie with the help of our resident cook, Peggy.'