BIG-hearted fundraisers from one of the smallest Royal British Legion branches in the region have come to the aid of a special care home.

Members of the Grewelthorpe branch, near Ripon, have raised £500 for landscaping to brighten up areas around Lister House, in the city, where a £5m improvement and expansion scheme is due to be completed in October.

The home is one of only seven run by the Legion for long-term residential and nursing care.

Manager-matron at the home Petronelle Fowler Watts received a cheque from branch chairman David Hartley and gave members a guided tour of the improved premises.

Lister House has 52 residents and 85 staff, but it will be able to home 76 people once expansion works are completed.

The Grewelthorpe Legion members are also preparing to mark the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe and Japan by buying two seats and a table for the community to enjoy some of the country scenery on their doorstep.

President Roger Chapman said they were now trying to find a suitable location and complete fundraising.

A spokesman for the Legion said nearly 13m people were eligible for their support and they received 300,000 calls a year for help.