AN institution which has raised money for Accrington Victoria Hospital for 90 years has made its last donation.

The Accrington Linen League, established by wives of doctors and other prominent men in 1908, has now officially disbanded.

The group, which celebrated its 90th anniversary just three months ago, was set up to provide extra comfort for patients at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

The decision to disband came as a result of the scaling-down of patient care at the hospital.

Barbara Geldard, league president said: "We simply are not needed any more, although we will still keep in touch with the hospital as friends and we are not ruling out more fund-raising if the hospital needs us."

The Linen League was founded to provide clothing for surgeons, along with blankets, sheets and bed linen.

In later years the ladies also provided a trolley service selling sweets and toiletries to patients.

As well as using their practical craft skills, the ladies have held countless coffee mornings and other events to raise money. Bequests and donations from members have helped provide goods.

The group's final donation was two specialist mattresses, together worth £2,500, to the GP ward. Ken Johnson, chief executive of Communicare NHS Trust, which operates services at the Accrington Victoria Hospital, said: "We are indebted to all the help and support the ladies have provided over the years.

"They have contributed an enormous amount to the hospital and given up so much of their time.

"We hope they can continue to play some part as friends of the hospital."

The group, which had 500 members at its peak, still had 300 members until it folded this week. Between 1971 and 1997 alone the group raised £71,000.

The two longest serving committee members are Edith Osbaldeston and Beatrice Crossley, who joined in 1952 and 1953 respectively. Edith's mother Bertha Crawshaw was a founding member of the group in 1908.

Their longest-serving member has sent contributions by post since 1934.

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