FREEMASONS have raised £300 for The Bolton News' Garden of Tranquillity appeal.

Members of the Brookfield Lodge in Westhoughton were so moved by the campaign to raise £100,000 to transform the run-down gardens of Bolton Hospice they decided to donate their collections to the appeal.

Former worshipful master of the lodge, Michael Green, came up with the idea, but the now worshipful master Derek McKee was happy to continue with the fundraising and they presented a cheque to the hospice.

Mr Green said: "This is a tremendous appeal and will be a fantastic benefit for the hospice, its patients and their loved ones.

"We wanted to do all we could to help make the hospice an even more special place."

The Bolton News launched the appeal to raise money to renovate the dilapidated grounds at the hospice, which have not been improved since it opened almost 15 years ago.Currently, most of the grounds are covered in grass, meaning people in wheelchairs and those using Zimmer frames cannot access them. Patio areas are filled with cracked, broken and uneven paving stones and the borders are sparsely planted.

Under the new plans, pathways will be created, providing disabled access, and there will be private seating areas where patients can spend quality time with loved ones.

There will also be a water feature and a sensory garden.

Generous fundraisers and local people have so far brought in more than £90,000.

Jumble sales, sponsored head shaves, private donations, cash from businesses, race nights, charity evenings, children selling their toys and a glittering charity ball are just some of the ways money has been raised.

  • If you want to contribute to the appeal, cheques and postal orders should be made payable to Bolton Hospice and can be returned to The Bolton News, Newspaper House, Churchgate, Bolton, BL1 1DE.

If you are organising a charity event, contact The Bolton News health reporter, Jane Lavender, on 01204 537350.