Charities across north Essex received almost £500,000 in funding from Essex Freemasons last year.

Masonic centres all over the country supported worthy causes last year with fundraising campaigns.

Grants from across north Essex added up to about £468,000.

Centres in Maldon, Brightlingsea, Burnham and Witham, Brentwood and Chelmsford gave the highest contribution of £230,000.

Braintree contributed £80,000 and Tollesbury, Kelvedon, Colchester, Wivenhoe, West Mersea, Frinton, Clacton and Harwich raised £108,000.

Saffron Walden and Halstead raised £50,000.

Provincial grand master Rodney Bass said: “It seems every year we set yet another new record for the amounts of money we raise and the number of charities we support.

“We have now donated in excess of £3.4 million over the last two years.”