Staff at Dorset-based SMD are steeling themselves for a series of charity efforts this summer.

This includes training hard for a 100k cycle ride, and also a 26-mile trek along the county’s Jurassic Coast.

It is all in aid of Julia’s House, a Dorset children’s hospice which helps children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families.

SMD, which designs, manufactures and installs metal decking systems and associated concrete works, has chosen Julia’s House as its charity for the year.

Ben Pratten, managing director of Tower Park, Poole-headquartered SMD, said: “We encourage our staff to be community-minded and they have generously given up their time to help charities.

“We have previously raised thousands of pounds for Cancer Research and Macmillan Cancer Support and this year wanted to focus on a worthwhile cause purely local to our Dorset base.”