Heart Breakfast presenters Kev and Ros have surprised a Cambridgeshire children’s charity with a cheque for over £80,000 – more than three times what it had originally applied for.

STARS, a charity which provides counselling services for children and young people who have experienced the death of an important person in their lives, had bid for a grant of £23,000 but Heart and Global’s Make Some Noise was able to more-than treble that amount thanks to donations from listeners.

The bid was submitted to fund the cost of one additional part-time counsellor for two years but Heart’s donation means STARS can now employ another two.

Heart’s managing editor, Freddie Scherer, said: “We know how difficult it can be for small charities to be heard and we’re in a privileged position of being able to help.

“As well as raising money for STARS, we’ve helped them increase awareness and grow their network donors so they can continue to do more great work.

“We’re so proud that, through the kindness of our listeners, we can help put a smile on the faces of young people in Cambridgeshire.”

Global, the media and entertainment group, created Global’s Make Some Noise in 2014 to offer a lifeline to small charities and projects that are doing inspiring work to help disadvantaged youngsters.

Grants are awarded to projects across the UK that help disadvantaged youngsters living with illness, disability or lack of opportunity. In its first three years, Global’s Make Some Noise has raised nearly £6 million and raised awareness for 135 incredible charities and project around the UK.

David Culley, chair of trustees at STARS said: “We’re overwhelmed by the generosity of Heart Cambridgeshire and its listeners.

“We were excited to be receiving a grant for £23,000 from Global’s Make Some Noise but they really surprised us when they told us it would be £80,300, completely surpassing our expectations.

“We want to thank Heart and its listeners for their support. Through this funding we’ll be able to help even more children that are in desperate need of urgent help in such tragic times. This extra money will enable us to get involved at the earliest possible stage and help children to come to terms with the situation before it happens.

“We’re over the moon that STARS now has the money to keep making a difference to hundreds of children in 2017 and beyond.”