SWEET-toothed chemical company staff have raised more than £2,000 in a year for St Luke’s Hospice by tucking into their favourite treats.

The hospice has been supported by the tuck shop at Tata Chemicals Europe’s head office in Winnington Lane, one of the ways that the company is backing the Cheshire charity.

A group of employees has signed up for the Three Peaks Challenge next year, and the head office is having a car boot sale on Sunday, November 2.

“From our head office on Winnngton Lane we don’t have any easily reachable shops, so we decided to open our own tuck shop,” said shop manager Karen Lounds, Tata’s head of human resources.

“By adding a small margin onto chocolate and crisps we’ve managed to raise quite a lot of money in a very short space of time, thanks to the obvious sweet tooth of our colleagues!”

The tuck shop has proved a hit with employees, with regular visits not only from 90 head office staff, but also from visiting colleagues at Tata’s soda ash, sodium bicarbonate and salt factories in Winnington, Lostock and Middlewich.

“St Luke’s is a fantastic organisation, which was chosen by employees as the charity which they wanted the company to support,” added Karen.

“It’s touched so many people’s lives that it was the obvious choice, and Tata Chemicals Europe is delighted to support it.

“In the last few days more than a dozen colleagues have signed up to climb the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales in a sponsored challenge, and a team are giving up their Sunday morning lie in to run a car boot sale, to which everyone is welcome.”

Rhys Edwards, St Luke’s Hospice community and corporate fundraiser, said the charity was very pleased to have the support of Tata and its employees.

“We are delighted to hear about the success of the tuck shop, and look forward to supporting its further fundraising efforts, starting with the car boot sale,” he said.

The boot sale is being held at the Winnington Lane site, and to reserve a pitch please ring 724000.