A VILLAGE pub is holding Christmas present wrapping sessions in its function room to raise money for a charity close to residents' hearts.

The General Burgoyne in Great Urswick is offering mulled cider and rum and raisin doughnuts, as well as  supplies of wrapping paper and tags to villagers who want to take part in wrapping sessions.

The aim is to raise money for Alice's Escapes, the family holiday charity founded by Ulverston teen Alice Pyne, who won world-wide recognition for her ‘bucket list’ before losing her battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2013.

Louise Sherrington, who runs the Burgoyne with chef husband Craig, said: "We'll be holding four present wrapping sessions altogether and we hope people will want to come along and enjoy some community spirit as well as helping a good cause."

In September the pub was the focus of Alice's Escapes fundraising when Urswick schoolgirl Ella Parker rounded off a 200-mile cycling challenge there, raising more than £1,800.

Louise said: "Alice's Escapes is such a good cause and the fundraising day with Ella and her family and friends was great fun. We thought we'd like to do something else.

"There's a really brilliant community spirit in Urswick."

The gift-wrapping sessions will be run from 6pm to 9pm on Wednesday, December 3, Tuesday, December 9, Wednesday, December 17 and Tuesday, December 23. The cost of £10 includes mulled cider and festive doughnuts as well as 4m of gift wrap, tape and tags.

The pub is also offering a specialist gift wrap service at £2-a-present for people who prefer not to get involved.

A share of the profits from both will be donated to Alice's Escapes.