The Masons visited Blackpool Victoria Hospital this week to donate £1,334.82 to the Special Care Baby Unit.

The Saturnian Lodge in Blackpool has been raising money for the unit for the past year.

Colin Goodwin, President of the Masonic Hall in Blackpool and a member of the Saturnian Lodge, visited the unit to present the cheque on behalf on Paul Durant, Worshipful Master of Saturnian Lodge.

Colin said: "I think the Special Care Baby Unit is a great cause and it really supports the local community.

"A number of members of the Lodge have had their babies cared for at the unit so we are fully behind the work that the staff do."

A variety of events were held to raise money for charity, including coffee mornings, social evenings, ladies evenings and raffles.

The Masons raise money for charity each year. This year, the total has been split between four charities, one of which being the Special Care Baby Unit.

Wendy Hall, acting lead nurse for the Special Care Baby Unit, said: "We are extremely grateful for this donation by the Masons.

"Fundraising contributions really do make a big difference to the service that we are able to provide on the unit."

The Special Care Baby Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital cares for babies with a number of medical conditions.

Some babies on the unit are born prematurely, others are born with breathing difficulties or feeding problems and some have abnormalities at birth.

The unit had 220 babies admitted last year.