ELEVEN food banks around Cumbria have benefited from the generosity of a Masonic charity.

Trustees of the Provincial Mark Benevolent Fund in the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland gave £250 each to the food banks at Appleby, Windermere, Penrith, Millom, Egremont, Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Cockermouth, Wigton and Carlisle.

The charity offered a similar donation to the Kings Foodbank in Kendal, which declined, saying it was "financially secure" and felt there would be other charities who would benefit from the support.

Pictured at Windermere & District Foodbank, from left, are Brian Holcroft, almoner and charity steward of Loughrigg Lodge of Mark Master Masons; Magda Khan, project manager at Windermere Foodbank; and Ian Bayley, secretary of Loughrigg Lodge of Mark Master Masons.

The food bank is located at Windermere's Methodist Church and supplies emergency groceries and essentials to needy locals. It is part of a nationwide network of food banks supported by the Trussell Trust.