ONE of the main events in Malvern's charity calendar has been saved by local Freemasons.

Organisers of the Annual Grand Combined Charity Fair, which is being held at the Forum, Malvern Theatres, on Saturday, November 4, needed £1,000 to make sure the event went ahead.

And, following an appeal for sponsorship in the Malvern Gazette, the Masons stepped in to help.

Jill Briggs, of Community Action which organises the fair, said: "We were delighted when the Freemasons came forward with their offer of sponsorship.

"The fair is a major fundraising event in Malvern and helps hundreds of people."

It needs the £1,000 each year to cover the costs of staging the fair, which helps forty local voluntary groups publicise their activities and raise funds.

Speaking on behalf of the hundred or more Freemasons who meet in Malvern, Jim Lomas explained why they offered to support Community Action.

He said: "Charity is one of the fundamental bases of Masonic practice. Freemasonry teaches and practices concern for people, care for the less fortunate, and help for those in need.

"Over the past five years alone, Freemasonry nationally has raised more than £75 million for a wide range of charitable purposes, including those involved in medical research, community care, education and work with young people.

"Community Action provides an ideal opportunity for the local Freemasons to help the many worthy local causes in Malvern represented by this admirable initiative, and we are delighted to be able to offer our support in such a practical way."