A DEDICATED community group has raised thousands for a charity.

Braintree Lions Club presented the Lions International Blood Research Appeal (LIBRA) with a cheque for £2,000 following its Real Ale Festival that attracted more than one thousand people.

The festival was held across three days in June at the Bocking Arts Theatre and saw visitors consume 50 barrels of beer and 12 casks of cider between them.

To mark the events success Tony Day, who helped to organise the festival, arranged a special celebration and cheque presentation on September 30.

He said: "We have always supported LIBRA and we normally just send donations, but this year we decided to do something more for this great Lions appeal.

"One of our club members has a blood disorder so we understand just how important LIBRA is when it comes to raising funds that benefit patients like him.

"We know that the £2,000 will be put to good use by the haematology department at King’s College Hospital.

"This year marked our twelfth annual Real Ale Festival and we offered a great selection of beverages, mainly from small local breweries from Essex and the south coast.

"We are pleased that we were able to raise a substantial amount for LIBRA and that it really will make a difference to patients with blood disorders."

The appeal, which is dedicated to raising funds for the haematology department at King's College Hospital in London, was selected as one of two major beneficiaries by club members.

Claire Allaker, LIBRA Pr officer, said: "On behalf of the LIBRA trustees I would like to thank Braintree Lions Club for choosing LIBRA as a beneficiary of the Real Ale Festival.

"It is events like these that really help to raise awareness of LIBRA and our mission to help King’s tackle blood cancers and disorders. We are most grateful for the funds raised and they will directly benefit patients at the hospital."