Around 40 children with critical illnesses have had their wishes come true thanks to more than £100,000 raised by specialist merchant BSS.

Kind-hearted colleagues have held a series of amazing events to raise the six-figure sum for Make-A-Wish UK, including car boot sales, race days, golf days, car washes and skydives.

Make-A-Wish has been BSS' nominated charity for three years. The charity exists to grant life-changing wishes to critically ill children and their families when they need them most. Around 134,000 children in the UK could be entitled to a wish because they are facing critical illness, with another child diagnosed every hour.

Angharad Punton, Corporate Partnerships Executive at Make-A-Wish, said: "We want to say a huge thank you to every single person at BSS who has got involved in raising such an incredible amount.

"To put it into perspective, £100,000 is enough to fund around 40 wishes. Every raffle, or every step up Snowdon has raised funds that that will help us grant more life-changing wishes for critically ill children and give families the chance to create precious memories together when they need it most."

For a child with critical illness, a wish is rarely just about what they want. It's often the clearest expression of what they need, and who they are beyond their diagnosis. A wish is as unique as the child. It gives them a choice and possibility again, at a time when so much of their life is out of their control.

Wishes can range from meeting a favourite celebrity or visiting a dream destination to having a special day out or receiving a much-wanted gift.

BSS Managing Director Josie Crowe said: "We are extremely proud to have crashed through the £100,000 fundraising barrier for Make-A-Wish.

"Since selecting the charity as our nominated good cause three years ago, our colleagues have thrown themselves headfirst into fundraising and it's fantastic that we have been able to put a smile on so many faces.

"Our thanks, too, to our tremendous customers who have supported our colleagues through donations, whether big or small."

Last year team members from BSS Scotland & North raised almost £2,000 by walking Hadrian's Wall.

Meanwhile, earlier this year more than £1,500 was raised by a sailing competition from Solent to Cowes.