A BISCUIT boss has heaped praise on his hard-working staff for helping to raise more than £250,000 for charity which helps children.

Richard O'Sullivan, the Bolton managing director of confectioners Millies Cookies, paid tribute to his "young team" and customers for their part in raising the cash for the Variety Club of Great Britain. Millies, which sells cookies from small stalls in shopping malls including the Trafford Centre, has been donating 5p for every cookie pot sold for the last three years to the club.

And the Manchester company's charity work was recognised when Mr O'Sullivan was presented with an award by the club at a recent ceremony.

But Mr O' Sullivan, who lives in Lostock and gave a cheque for £25,000 to the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, played down his role in his company's charity work.

He said: "It's been our best year for sales and for profits, which is why we've managed to raise this amount of money -- and that's thanks to our dynamic young team.

"We're a company with a social conscience and we like to help charities in whatever we can. It keeps it real for our staff and for myself.

"The Bolton Lads and Girls Club is a fabulous organisation which helps really does make a difference to kids in Bolton. We're always happy to help them out in any way we can."

Millies is one of the fastest growing privately-owned companies in the North-west, with an annual turnover of £25 million and more than 100 outlets.