Maryport Town Council is to donate £250 to a Flimby family raising money for sick children’s charities.

Mayor Linda Radcliffe ran a raffle as part of the town’s Christmas lights festival to raise money for Jack’s Journey.

Following discussions, councillors decided to donate a larger sum of £250 rather than the £160 proceeds of the raffle, to support the fundraising efforts of Jack Gibson’s family.

At a recent town council meeting, concerns had been raised over the use of generic cloakroom tickets instead of printed tickets naming the charity, which Flimby councillor Peter Kendall said was necessary under licensing rules. He was also concerned if the cause was not a registered charity, but he was assured it was in the process of being registered.

At Coun Kendall’s suggestion, councillors agreed to put the £160 raised by the raffle into council funds and to instead give a donation of £250 to the family.

Jack’s Journey was established by the Gibson family, of Farmer’s Way.

They began fundraising just days after discovering that Jack, then 18 months old, had cancer.

They wanted to help other families in a similar situation.

Coun Kendall said: “I think in recent times it’s one of the best causes we have supported. It is a wonderful charity.”

Last week Jack, now two, was awarded a Shining Star by Cancer Research UK for his bravery.