HELPING others is plain sailing for the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust.

The trust has been nominated for The Trinity Mirror Cheshire-Scottish Power Your Champions Awards, for its dedicated work helping disabled people to enjoy the pleasures of canal boat trips.

The charity began 23 years ago as part of the Rotary Club of Wrexham and has been going from strength to strength ever since.

The Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust was nominated by Lorraine Hughes, who won a trip through the Rotary Club and has helped ever since with fundraising for the charity.

'The charity allows a lot of disabled people to enjoy the pleasures of canal cruising in specially adapted boats,' Lorraine explained.

'The staff are lovely and they always make sure the passengers have a laugh and a joke on board. It's great to see the pleasure the trips give people.'

The charity has helped thousands of disabled people enjoy canal boat trips, and relies on £30,000 worth of donations a year to keep its two narrow boats Millie and Glas-y-Dorlan on the water.

Glas-y-Dorlan has recently been refitted and has been adapted so that it can be driven by a disabled person. The boat takes up to 12 people on day trips, while Millie can sleep up to six people and can be used for breaks away.

Patients from Nightingale House Hospice regularly use the boats for day trips.

Staff nurse Sean Petett said: 'All our clients go once a year. The patients really enjoy themselves, the staff are really helpful and the facilities are great.'

The trust recently journeyed 585 miles to London on Millie to celebrate Rotary International's centenary year and to raise awareness of Canal Boats for Disabled People. The trip also raised much-needed cash for the charity.

Colin Loughlin, trustee of The Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust, said: 'We are a charity for charities. We help provide relaxation for people with a diverse range of disabilities. We're always over-subscribed.

'Its very rewarding. A lot of people say to me 'When can we come again?' That's why I do it.'

For more information or to make a donation to this worthwhile cause, contact The Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust on 01978 861450.