A Cheltenham charity dedicated to providing support to the town's most vulnerable, disadvantaged and lonely people, has been given a £3,000 boost.

Law firm Lodders' Cheltenham team nominated local charity Cheltenham Open Door as the sole beneficiary in the town for fundraising in 2019 by the firm's Charitable Foundation.

Which meant the charity and the people it supports received the £3,000 donation in time for Christmas, a difficult time for many and one of the charity's busiest periods.

Rosie Radford, communications officer of Cheltenham Open Door, said: "Our charity supports those who are homeless, with mental health issues, in or recovering from addiction, isolated or in poverty.

"We provide 10,000 hot meals a year, showers, laundry and food parcels and a place for our guests to feel welcome and belong.

"We receive no central funding; donations like the £3,000 from Lodders allow us to know that we can continue to offer all our services to our guests for another year. We and our guests are delighted."

Lodders created LCF in 2016 with the aim of raising vital financial support and providing help to local charities, where it can make a genuine difference. To date it has donated around £50,000 to local independent charities.

David Lodder, the foundation's chairman, said: "Lodders' ethos of supporting the people and charities in its local communities is embedded across the firm.

"2019 has been a brilliant year for the Charitable Foundation, and it has been a great privilege to raise funds for such worthwhile charities in our region.

"The work Cheltenham Open Door carries out in the local community and beyond is invaluable, and we are thrilled to be able to make a substantial donation to support their efforts."

LCF also donated £3000 to both the Lifespace Trust and The Shakespeare Hospice charities In December. It also raised £7,000 for children's cancer charity, CLIC Sargent, thanks to Lodders' partners Michael Wakeling, Alastair Frew and James Spreckley who cycled 310 miles from London to Paris in four days.

Lifespace Trust is an independent charity that mentors young people aged between nine and 19, to help them build resilience and achieve more, and Shakespeare Hospice offers supportive care for patients living with a diagnosis or life limiting illness, and emotional care to those facing or coping with a loss.