A CHARITY is celebrating after securing a funding boost through winning almost £50,000 from the People's Millions competition.

Teesside autism charity Daisy Chain plans to use the money to redevelop the farm area, renovate the barn and buy in more, and a greater variety of, animals.

The win in the annual contest, which is funded by the Big Lottery and is voted on by members of the public, means it will be able to expand its animal petting scheme, which helps to reduce anxiety and stress in children with autism.

Chief executive of the Norton-based charity, Judith Haysmore (CORR) said: “This is just an amazing thing to have happen to us. I’m almost speechless. I must say thank you to everybody who voted for us, making this possible.

"The parents, the children, the volunteers, the businesses and individual North Easterners who took the trouble to pick up the phone and vote for us. Thank you so much everybody.”

This is the ninth year that the Big Lottery Fund and ITV gave the public the chance to choose where the Lottery good cause cash goes in their region.

The win means the redeveloped area can also be used to provide training towards a national qualification for youngsters on the autistic spectrum.

From catering for 40-50 families when the charity started there are now around 1,500 families reliant on its services, the barn plays a huge part in that role, hence the desperate need for improvements.

Dawn Austwick, Big Lottery Fund chief executive, said: “People’s Millions is a great way for local people to get behind hard working projects doing great things for their local communities. This is a brilliant result for the people of Stockton-on-Tees and shows that local lives really can be changed by you. There are some excellent projects still to be showcased, so tune in to ITV Tyne Tees, pick up the phone and vote for your favourite project.”

Anna Kennedy, autism campaigner and Daisy Chain patron, is spending a few days back on her native Teesside to join in the celebrations where she will be attending the annual Daisy Chain Winter Ball at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Friday (November 28).

For further information about the charity visit www.daisychainproject.co.uk