LUCKY charities will share in a £17,500 cash windfall from Southend Airport following its successful Santa flights.

The airport delivered a festive experience in the skies for children in December, with Father Christmas swapping his sleigh and reindeer for Easyjet planes.

A special ‘gifting’ event will take place at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, where the airport will celebrate its chosen charities by presenting them with cheques, meeting the representatives in person and hearing their stories.

The total amount raised by the Santa flights has been allocated to 19 amazing charities.

Glyn Jones, chief executive officer of Stobart Aviation, owners of Southend Airport, said: “We are delighted to be able to contribute to so many fantastic charities following the success of the Santa Flights.

“This is part of our continued efforts to support the local community and to champion a range of worthy causes.

“As the UK’s fastest growing airport, we have also announced plans to create 100 new jobs this year, which will further benefit the local area and regional economy.”

The airport will make donations to Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation, to help to improve MRI scanning experiences for paediatric patients.

Another beneficiary is the Anxiety Society, to support mental health work locally, Friends of Leigh Library Gardens and Southend Carers, along with many others.

The airport will also help fund good causes such as Little Heroes, to provide music therapy sessions for children with autism, and Brainwave, to help children with disabilities and their families.

A spokesman for Friends of Leigh Library Gardens said: “The Friends of Leigh Library Gardens are truly delighted to be the recipients of this award.

“It will enable us to work to make the lower gardens a more inclusive, bio-diverse and sustainable green space for the residents of, and visitors to Leigh.

“Our aim is to plant a mini-orchard to enhance the wildlife in the gardens and contribute to improving mental wellbeing.”