A GENEROUS organisation has donated £1,000 to a charity which gives comforting teddies to children in hospital.

Maldon Masonic Lodge presented the sum to Teddies Loving Care (TLC), which provides soft toys to youngsters at moments of potential stress including when they are about to undergo medical treatment.

The bears are even carried by air ambulance crews for children involved in traumatic incidents.

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Ian Watson, treasurer of the TLC appeal for Essex, said: “Receiving donations such as these is directly contributing to the comfort provided to young children by the bears. This donation was especially generous.

“The scheme was first launched in 2001 and has now expanded both nationally and internationally...here in Essex we now give out about 25,000 bears every year.”

The donation was presented to Mr Watson at the lodge headquarters in Cromwell Hill on Wednesday, February 16.

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Martin Harvey, charity steward of the lodge, said: “A £500 donation was proposed by one of our members, Andy Fusher, which was agreed by members then the master at the time, Gary Clatworthy, said any monies raised at his ladies' festival would also go to the charity.

“The festival managed to match the £500 by raffling teddies at the event.”