AT the cost of 100,000 Acorn Training & Recruitment has become the NSPCC's first corporate patron in Wales.

The Newport-based firm has pledged the money as part of the NSPCC's FULL STOP campaign to try to put an end to child cruelty.

Dan Langford, Acorn's marketing and communications director, said: "Acorn staff have enjoyed a long history of supporting charity and community initiatives and this latest pledge of raising at least 100,000 is a challenge everyone is looking forward to imm-ensely."

Greta Thomas of NSPCC Cymru said: "Our frontline services not only protect and support children, they also provide the evidence that informs our campaigns.

"And our public education programme spreads our message to a wider audience.

"Acorn is the first company to make a pledge to donate 100,000 or more and we would clearly like to see many more follow its lead."

The NSPCC claims that FULL STOP is the biggest charitable appeal ever attempted in the UK: it aims to raise 250 million nationally, with 3million of that to be raised in Wales.

So far the appeal has raised 139.3 million.

In Wales, the funds raised by Acorn will be used to support the running of the NSPCC's helpline, to pay for counsellors and to support the specialist investigation family support services.