ROYAL Navy personnel and Royal Marines will be offered free accommodation at a Purbeck holiday park.

Sandford Holiday Park, near Wareham, is one of the nine parks operated by Parkdean Resorts that has signed up to the rewards partnership with the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).

Under the scheme the breaks will be offered to servicemen and women and their families.

Parkdean will provide up to 145 holiday breaks between April and November this year at nine of its parks, including Sandford, as well as 24 weeks’ availability at a disabled-access unit at Southview, Skegness.

Steve Richards, chief executive officer of Parkdean Resorts, said: “We all admire the armed forces and the amazing sacrifices that our service personnel make, so it’s an honour to be able to give back to them and their families through our partnership with the RNRMC and we look forward to welcoming them to Sandford this year.

“As a company, we can really benefit from the transferable skills and qualities that the armed forces instil in its people."

Parkdean has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting service personnel by signing up to the Armed Forces Covenant.

Admiral Tony Radakin CB ADC, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, said: “I am delighted that the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity is able to provide these respite breaks through Parkdean Resorts.

"Our people and their families often make significant sacrifices in the service of our country, and it’s fantastic we can recognise this by awarding holidays that help families re-connect and relax together.

"Thank you to Parkdean for such generosity.”

Meanwhile, a Parkdean spokesman said: "The breaks will be awarded as recognition of not only the service person, but also their families, for the extraordinary sacrifices and support they provide whilst their spouses/partners and loved ones are deployed around the globe.

"The award also aims to recognise families that may have gone or are going through difficult times and where time away may help."