More than £135,000 has been awarded to local charities by the Cumberland and Westmorland Freemasons.

They donated £10,000 each to six Cumbrian organisations including West House and West Cumbria Carers. In addition the London-based Masonic Charitable Foundation gave £58,000 from a charity fund.

Following a public vote, Danica’s Dream Fund and West Cumbria Society for the Blind each received £4,000, with Northside Community Centre being awarded £6,000.

The Province of Cumberland and Westmorland Freemasons made the donations to mark 300 years of organised Freemasonry and the formation of United Grand Lodge of England.

It also purchased a new fully kitted out “Blood Bike” for use by the Blood Bike Association across Cumbrian hospitals and medical centres in the emergency transportation of life-saving blood and tissue.

The Great North Air Ambulance was also awarded £1,000.

Provincial grandmaster Norman Thompson said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate 300 years of Freemasonry by supporting the valuable work of these excellent local charities.

“This is the first occasion we’ve asked the public to help us decide how to spend the money. We are very pleased that so many people from Cumbria took part in the public vote.”

The Masonic Charitable Foundation obtains all of its funding from Freemasons, their families and friends.