RUNCORN comic John Bishop and his wife Melanie are the latest famous faces to become patrons of a children’s charity which helps terminally ill children.

They join Sir Bobby Charlton, Jason Manford, Noddy Holder, Freddie Flintoff, Lee Boardman and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey to support The Children’s Adventure Farm Trust.

John played Santa at one of their Christmas parties, giving out presents to children who would otherwise not experience such festive fun.

The charity provides holidays, respite and day trips for terminally ill, chronically sick, disabled and disadvantaged children from across the north west.

Each year they must raise £1 million to continue to provide these life-changing opportunities to children in desperate need.

Helen Crowther, the charity’s senior trust fundraiser, aged 41, from Clarence Street, Runcorn said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that John and Melanie have decided to join our adventure farm family.

“It has been such a pleasure getting to know them both. They’re a lovely, approachable couple who genuinely want to help. They’ve been very moved by the children and the work we’re doing here .

“We’re really looking forward to working with them and are all really excited about the opportunities their patronage will bring. With John and Melanie’s help we’d like to raise the profile of our small charity so we can help even more terminally ill, disabled and disadvantaged children every year.”

John and Melanie will visit the children and become ambassadors.

Melanie attended the charity’s ladies lunch at The Mere yesterday John and Melanie said: “We’re over the moon to be invited to become patrons of the Adventure Farm.

“We’ve been supporting this amazing charity for several years and have been delighted to spend time with the children, as well as getting to know the staff and volunteers who work so hard to make all of this possible.

“We look forward to helping them raise the money they need to help disadvantaged, disabled and terminally ill children across the north west. “ To find out more about the Adventure Farm and how you can help, visit caft.co.uk.