THE STROKE unit at West Cumberland Hospital has received a generous donation from local Freemasons.

Whitehaven Masonic Lowther lodge cheque presentations The Lowther lodge of Whitehaven Masonic Society on Duke St handed over £500 to the Stroke Unit at West Cumberland hospital Present were Lodge officials (l to r) , Trevor Days ,Hannah Bragg who accepted the cheque on behalf of the hospital , Maurice Tunstall and Geoff Billingham . pic John Story August 25th 2016

The Lowther Lodge, which recently announced its closure, gave £500 to the unit as a legacy donation.

Trevor Days, treasurer of the lodge, said it was closing due a lack of new members.

He said: “We’re struggling to get new members because people are so busy these days and there’s so much more for people to do to occupy their time.”

The lodge also gave a £500 donation to The Whitehaven News’ Lifeboat appeal.