A SPOT of flower arranging has helped raise money for specialist high-tech monitoring equipment for patients with diabetes.

Northallerton and District Flower Club – together with the staff from the town’s branch of Barclays Bank – raised £1,000 for Friends of the Friarage by holding an open night flower demonstration.

Both the club and the bank, which made the presentation as part of its match-funding programme, wanted to support the Friarage Hospital’s Diabetes Centre.

Specialist nurse Clare MacArthur said: “We’re extremely grateful for this fantastic donation which will be put towards some continuous glucose sensor equipment for people with type one diabetes.

“Essentially this is an inbuilt sensor, fixed in the skin, which enables the user to look at a small screen for their blood glucose monitoring rather than having to prick their finger every single time.

“By having these continuous monitoring devices, we can diagnose diabetes-related issues and help to prevent them from re-occurring.”