A charity which started life as a 'penny a week' fund, this year celebrates 50 years of fund-raising.

Chorley Hospital's League of Friends has raised a whopping £250,000 since its humble beginnings.

And to celebrate its birthday and achievements, the organisation has been presented with a special plaque.

Chorley and South Ribble MPs Lindsay Hoyle and David Borrow made the presentation to the Friends at the hospital on Friday, and the plaque now hangs in pride of place at the hospital's main entrance.

And in their typically generous manner, the charity marked the occasion by presenting a commemorative bench to the hospital which will sit just outside the main entrance.

Dennis Benson, chairman of the Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust, said: "The Friends do an absolutely marvellous job and have played a very important role in supporting the hospital, its patients, visitors and staff over the last 50 years.

"They have worked tirelessly to raise money for much-needed equipment and to improve the hospital environment for everyone through services such as hospital radio.

"We owe them a great debt of gratitude and we wanted to mark this wonderful anniversary by presenting them with something that expressed our thanks for their commitment and hard work over the years."

The League of Friends of Chorley and South Ribble District General Hospital started life in 1950 as the Chorley Hospital Welfare Society.

The 'penny a week' fund was started up to buy Christmas presents and other items for patients.

Since then the charity has paid for improvements and equipment for the hospital, including a minibus and hospital radio gear.

The friends even buy sweets for brave children attending the hospital's Accident and Emergency department -- making them very popular!