Bradford supermarket giant Morrisons has chosen Asthma UK as its cause of the year.

More than 120,000 supermarket staff across the country voted to raise money for the charity in a bid to help the one in five households affected by asthma.

The charity is dedicated to helping the health and well-being of all those affected by the illness.

The supermarket will raise money for Asthma UK through customer fundraising, cause-related marketing and Morrisons employees taking part in events such as the Great North Run.

From this week, shoppers who visit Morrisons stores will be able to buy a number of Asthma UK products featuring its mascot, Bagpuss.

Volunteers will also be visiting supermarkets up and down the UK this week to raise money.

It is hoped that during the year the supermarket and its customers will be able to beat its previous charity of the year fundraising record of £1.5 million, raised last year for Breast Cancer Campaign.

Kate Pollard, corporate fundraising manager at Asthma UK, said: "We would like to extend a huge thank you' to all Morrisons employees for choosing us as their charity of the year.

"This is a major partnership for us as it has huge fundraising potential.

"It means we will be able to extend our reach and support more people with asthma across the UK, which will make a huge difference to the work we do."

Colin Middlemiss, Morrisons PR controller, said: "More than five million people in the UK have asthma and 1.1 million of them are children.

"Their asthma will affect those friends and family around them so Morrisons' customers and staff will no doubt know someone affected by asthma.

"Through the partnership we aim to raise vital funds which will support further research to help understand more about the causes of asthma and to help free people with asthma from its effects."

A dedicated hotline will also be set up at Asthma UK so staff from Morrisons are able to call and request fundraising resources such as t-shirts and posters.

e-mail: claire.lomax @bradford.newsquest.co.uk