A CUMBRIAN cafe has raised hundreds of pounds to help children this Christmas through festive events.

The Muddy Duck Cafe & Tea Room in Caldbeck has organised an elf hunt and will have a Santa's grotto with money going to CFM Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.

The cafe is run by Charles Deans, his wife Sara and daughters Ebony and Lois.

Mr Deans said: "I struggled with money when we were young and were starting a family. It feels wrong that kids aren’t getting a present."

This is not the first time that the family has raised funds for charity.

After losing his sister to pancreatic cancer last year, Mr Deans travelled from Land's End to John O'Groats in his wheelchair.

He raised nearly £20,000 for Eden Valley Hospice and the Calvert Trust.

On the elf hunt, youngsters are given a map with clues.

They have to find 20 elves which are dotted around Caldbeck.

It has been running from November 13 and continues until December 23.

It costs £2.50 to take part and £1 of that goes to CFM Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.

Mr Deans said that it had been going well.

"It's been a roaring success," he said. "We’ve had nearly 500 kids round so far.

"We donated £500 today to the CFM charity but we’ve still got another month to go."

The cafe's Santa's Grotto starts on December 11 and runs every weekend before Christmas.

It also runs during the week from December 20 to December 23.

Tickets are £15 per child and £2 for an adult.

Children are given a present and will meet Santa and his elves.

£1 of every ticket goes to CFM Cash for Kids Mission Christmas.

Mr Deans said: "It's running in the old café [next to The Muddy Duck]. Because it’s all oak and old beams, it’s got that festive feel to it.

"The building is sitting empty so we cleared it out and decided to use it for Santa’s Grotto.

"We’re painting and putting fireplace in and building a stage."

He added: "It’s starting to book out now."