RYEDALE Lions Club has injected nearly £30,000 into the local community over the past year.

It is the largest amount ever donated by the club in a single year, thanks to the fundraising efforts of members and the generosity of local residents.

Major donations include £6,000 to four local GP surgeries for specialist equipment and a further £6,000 from the annual Lions sleigh tour, shared by three local charities, the Wilf Ward Trust, Encephalitis Society and Scarborough and Ryedale Carers Resource.

Ryedale Lions president Frank Hayward said the coronavirus epidemic had severely limited opportunities for new fundraising events, but the club had used its existing resources to make a real difference for many local people.

He said: “Our donations have helped many organisations provide much-needed services in this difficult time. I am heartened to see so many individuals and groups working together in our community to support those who are vulnerable, shielding or socially isolated.”