A MUCH-LOVED children’s charity has scooped a prestigious national award.

Last night, in front of millions of viewers, Little Haven's Children's Hospice was named winner of the National Lottery Award for the Best Lottery Funded Voluntary or Charity Project.

Youngsters being looked after by the hospice can now benefit from a £2,000 cash boost as part of the prize, which the charity explained pays for 125 hours of nursing care at Little Havens.

The announcement was made on live television on Saturday during a special BBC1 National Lottery Awards show, hosted by musical star John Barrowman.

The Thundersley-based charity was granted £650,000 from the Big Lottery Fund in 2002, which funded eight specialist children’s nurses for three years.

To scoop the award, Little Havens beat off stiff competition from two other charities also in the final and received nearly 10,000 votes from members of the public who voted online and by telephone between July and August.

Little Havens Head of Care, Lauren Summers, said: “I couldn’t be more proud to accept this award on behalf of our incredible staff, volunteers and supporters."

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