Clarks Village in Street has announced the two charities who are to share a £2,000 donation as part of the centre's Christmas charity initiative - Marie Curie Somerset and the Nelson Trust.

At the end of last year, Clarks Village stated that it was donating the money normally used for the Christmas tree to local charities in need, giving guests the choice to suggest a local charity or cause online.

There were more than 90 nominations made via the Clarks Village website, with the management team selecting both Marie Curie and the Nelson Trust as the recipients of the donation.

Operating in Somerset since 2017, the Nelson Trust offers an outreach service to vulnerable women in the local community.

In 2019, the charity opened a Women's Centre in Bridgwater, and it offers key worker support, one to one sessions, online virtual groups and access to a hot shower, food and clothing.

The Nelson Trust is aiming to use the Clarks Village donation to purchase mobile phones for women who have no other means of contact, fund transport for women fleeing abuse, provide food and distraction packs, and contribute towards its evening outreach service.

The UK's leading end of life charity, Marie Curie provides frontline nursing and hospice care, as well as helping those who have recently lost a loved one and need emotional support.

More recently, the charity has launched a support service for those affected by coronavirus, which extends to supporting professionals on the front line.

The charity is planning on using the donation for its Somerset nursing service in order to provide hands on nursing care and emotional support for patients and their families.

Riona Houghton, community fundraiser at Marie Curie Somerset, said: "We are so grateful to Clarks Village for this generous donation of £1,000, which will help us continue to provide invaluable support to people with a terminal illness who are at the very end of their life.

"It is more important than ever that we are there for people in Somerset during this difficult time to provide home nursing care and emotional support to patients and their families. Thank you Clarks Village."

Gemma Denman, the centre manager at the Nelson Trust's Bridgwater Centre, said: "We would be unable to provide key services to women without the help we receive from the community.

"The donation from Clarks Village will have a hugely positive impact on our services, and will continue to allow us to support vulnerable women in the local community."

Chris Davis, centre director at Clarks Village, said: "It was fantastic to see so many local charities nominated by our guests, and we're delighted to announce the Nelson Trust and Marie Curie as the donation recipients.

"Both charities have a positive impact within the local community, and after what has been a challenging time for many, we're pleased to be able to make a donation to both organisations.

"We thank all our guests for their fantastic suggestions - through their responses we've been able to make a difference to two worthy non-profit organisations."