ST JOHN Ambulance in the region has received a much-needed donation from local Freemasons.

On April 17, the first aid charity was presented with a state-of-the-art mobile treatment centre, which will be based at the charity's Thirsk headquarters.

The new unit is one of more than 50 vehicles that are being handed over across England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in a phased programme throughout 2018.

The vehicles have been secured thanks to a capital grant of £3.2 million to the Order of St John from the benevolent fund of the Mark Master Masons of North and East Yorkshire.

The grant has been made with the specific aim of providing new ambulances, treatment centres and support vehicles to St John Ambulance, the Order's operational arm in England and the Islands.

The Thirsk vehicle will be put to use at events throughout North Yorkshire, as the charity's volunteers deliver life-saving first aid to members of the public.

At the handover event, which took place at York Racecourse, Provisional Grand Master Bob Clancey said: "The Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF) has grown from its inception in 1868, when the first grant of £5 was given to a penniless, shipwrecked sailor just returning home, to today's multi-million pound organisation.

"The MBF is a caring, compassionate and charitable organisation, which cares passionately about the communities that we live in.

"St John Ambulance shares the same philosophy, so it's a delight to hand over this treatment centre to enable them to continue their life-saving work."

On behalf of the charity, Gordon Cameron said: "The donation of this vehicle is wonderful news for the county and will significantly help enhance patient care and contribute to more lives saved locally.

"We're immensely grateful to the Mark Master Masons and the MBF for their generosity."

For more information about the Order of St John in England go to www.stjohnengland.org.uk. St John Ambulance can be found at www.sja.org.uk.

For details of the Mark Master Masons and the MBF - which has made grants to charities and other worthy causes totalling more than £20 million since it was set up 150 years ago - go to www.glmmm.com or www.markbenevolence.org.uk.