A chance meeting on a train has led to £10 million being raised by Britain’s biggest pub chain, Watford-based J D Wetherspoon, for cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Staff and customers have been fundraising for the past 13 years for the charity, which supports children and young people with cancer, and their families.

J D Wetherspoon pubs across the country will be holding a day of celebrations on Monday to mark the milestone.

The partnership began when J D Wetherspoon Founder and Chairman Tim Martin met the then Chief Executive of CLIC Sargent on a train in 2002.

An initial fundraising target of £500,000 was set but the response from staff was so huge that each year the target was increased. Since 2010 the company has raised at least £1million a year for CLIC Sargent.

J D Wetherspoon, has now committed to supporting the charity until 2020.

Mr  Martin said: “I am so proud of everyone at J D Wetherspoon and our loyal customers for all their hard work in raising £10million for CLIC Sargent.

“The partnership with this wonderful charity may have started from a chance meeting but it is the dedication and commitment of everyone at J D Wetherspoon which has led to this terrific milestone.

“The money raised has already helped hundreds of children, young people and their families, who have been affected by cancer, and we’re committed to helping many more.”