Public support has helped a much-loved Cumbrian charity win £25,000 of crucial funding so it can create a new sensory garden.

Wigton-based Chrysalis, which provides support for people with a wide range of disabilities, hoped to make the project become a reality with a cash injection from the Masonic Charitable Foundation.

The Freemasons are giving away £3m to 300 charities across England and Wales to celebrate a special anniversary.

Projects had to apply to enter and shortlisted schemes were then thrown open to a public vote to see who wins the cash.

It was announced yesterday (WED) that Chrysalis had won the Cumbria section of the vote and will now collect the fundind.

“We’re absolutely delighted with this award and would like to thank everyone that voted for us and all those that campaigned on our behalf,"

Gilda Wells, chair of trustees, said.

"This amount of money will make a real difference to creating a wonderful sensory garden suitable for all our members to access, explore, develop and enjoy."

The charity will be arranging a series of community engagement events throughout the creation of the garden.