A MASONIC lodge has come to the help of hospital patients with a £5,000 gift towards new facilities at a children's ward.

Members of the Gateshead Masonic Lodge donated the money to help refurbish the parents' room in the children's department of the town's Queen Elizabeth Memorial Hospital.

The facility was opened by Gateshead Mayoress Kate Hamilton, who visited the hospital to unveil a plaque thanking the masons for their support.

Ian Knighting, of the Masons, said: "We wanted to do something beneficial for the community and feel this is something that will help everybody.

"As a parent, I understand how important it is for parents to be near their children while they are in hospital and we hope this will help to make life a little easier for them."

The room provides somewhere for parents to relax and includes a television, video, fridge and chairs. The money has also helped to pay for a laminate floor, curtains, pictures and wallpaper.

In addition to the donation from the Masons, patients were given a new table football table courtesy of Bestway Cash and Carry, in Gateshead, and Britvic.

Children's services manager at Gateshead Health NHS Trust, Julie Bloomfield, said: "We are grateful to both of these organisations for their generous support."