The Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, hosted the third annual charity ball and auction for The Principle Trust, which gives underprivileged children and their families a much-needed holiday. The Valentine-themed, black tie event raised a record amount for the charity, founded by Mike Davies, chief executive of Skipton-based Principle Healthcare, and will go towards this year’s target of buying a fourth holiday home.

Hotel owner Michael Bannister joined industry guests and supporters as well as colleagues from the group’s offices in Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary who made the journey to Skipton through some of the UK’s worst weather conditions.

The aim of the trust is to improve the quality of family life for children who are disadvantaged socially, physically or emotionally, by providing and promoting access to a seaside holiday at Haven’s Marton Mere holiday park.

To date, more than 300 children have enjoyed a week-long break enabling them to spend quality time with their siblings and loved ones.

“We are going to continue fundraising, so that we can make even more children happy and invest in further holiday accommodation,” said Mr Davies.

Donations can be made online at theprincipletrust.

co.uk.