Successful businessman Mike Davies has never forgotten the trauma he felt when he lost his mother when he was just five-and-a- half years old.

It coloured his childhood and made him keen to help those less fortunate than himself.

Now, having just celebrated his 60th birthday, he has set up a trust which will give holidays to disadvantaged children.

“It is the realisation of a dream,” said Mike, who is group managing director of Skipton-based Principle Healthcare, one of the UK’s leading vitamin, minerals and supplements producers.

He has always been interested in community work – in his younger days, he was a volunteer at a Leonard Cheshire home – and, once his two sons had left home, he began to look at how he could put something back into the community.

Then, on December 10, 2009, he watched TV show DIY SOS, where Nick Knowles and his team did a house makeover for an out-of-work parent with four children, and visited a day centre for underprivileged youngsters.

“It was the final straw,” said Mike. “I sent an e-mail to my colleagues saying we had to do something to help. At that stage, I had no idea what, but the response was overwhelming.”

Various possibilities were put forward, but it was decided to provide holidays for underprivileged children.

On Saturday, The Principle Trust was officially launched, with the aim of working with local authorities to provide seaside holidays for children who are disadvantaged socially, physically, emotionally or through extreme poverty.

It has bought two state-of-the-art three-bedroomed caravans, each costing £75,000, which will be sited at the Haven Holiday Park at Marton Mere, near Blackpool.

“We want lots of children to benefit,” said Mike. “Social services will select the children, but we will be responsible for everything else, from ground rents to cleaning.”

Mike paid tribute to colleagues for helping to make his vision a reality, in particular Fiona Wiseman, Clare Campbell and Nicky Midgley, who will serve as trustees.

“What the team has achieved has been exceptional. We are now waiting for the park to open at Easter.”

Anyone wanting to donate to the trust should contact (01756) 792600, or visit theprincipletrust.co.uk