Freemasons have stepped in to help after a spate of vandalism at a Bristol charity's hospice.

In January, six light bollards were destroyed in the car park at St Peter's Hospice in Brentry.

Due to health and safety concerns, the charity urgently needed to replace the bollards, which cost around £1,000 each.

But that would have meant using money which could otherwise have been spent on providing 150 hours of care in the community.

After an appeal for help, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire Freemasons got in touch and has paid for the replacement of the bollards.

Adrian Davies, Provincial Grand Master, said: "One of my colleagues heard the news story and was so upset that local people might suffer as a result of this thoughtless behaviour that he asked if we could help fund the new lights.

"Luckily, we had a meeting the same day and we all agreed that this was a good use of our charitable funds.

"As an organisation we help an awful lot of charities in our area and we immediately contacted the hospice and offered to pay for the replacements."

Sandie Foxall-Smith, chief executive of St Peter's Hospice, said: "The Hospice serves the local community and is a charitable organisation which relies on the generous donations from the general public and local businesses.

"Money donated to the hospice should not have to be spent on repairing property damaged by thoughtless individuals, but on caring for people who are dying and their families.

"So we are so grateful to the Gloucester Masons for giving us this generous donation – this has restored my faith in human nature."

Every year, St Peter's Hospice provides palliative care to more than 1,900 patients and support to 5,000 family members and children in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

They provide a range of patient services at the two Hospices at Brentry and Knowle, and also deliver care and support in local homes through their Community Nurse Specialist teams and Hospice at Home service.

The cost of providing the specialised service is £5.3 million per year.

The Provincial Grand Lodge of Gloucestershire funds its charitable work via an alms collection at the end of every meeting, donations, various fundraising activities or from the profits of social events.

Every member is expected to give to charity, but the amount is left entirely to his discretion.