A Wimbledon based charity has been given a big boost to its hopers of eradicating cleft lips and palates in Malawi.

Operation Smile, in The Broadway, was recently granted £4 million fund a minimum five-year program designed to change thousands of children’s lives and young adults for the better.

Chris Williams, community partnerships and events manager, praised the help the charity had received.

"Our Wimbledon supporters are instrumental to raising awareness of our work – without them, we would not be able to provide free surgeries for so many children in need around the world," he said.

"Those born with a cleft condition in some of the countries we work, face not only physical complications, but are often subjected to severe social stigma and isolation. Although hundreds of miles away, the local Wimbledon community are integral to creating a movement for change."

Over the course of the next 12 months Operation Smile will provide surgeries for 900 patients from more than 60 medical volunteers in each medical mission with the money given by the Kentown Wizard Foundation.

The programme will also include nutritional support and education and training initiatives to upskill Malawian healthcare workers to build a sustainable and self-perpetuating ability to provide cleft care in the country.