A NORTH Yorkshire dairy has helped hospital patients receive complementary therapy treatment.

A celebration organised by Arla Foods, at Northallerton, to mark the centenary of the dairy at the Romanby Road site, provided £150 to the Alastair Bullen Aromatherapy Fund.

It provides aromatherapy to cancer patients and patients needing medical daycare at the Mowbray suite of Northallerton's Friarage Hospital.

The aromatherapy is to help patients unwind by easing feelings of anxiety, and to reduce symptoms, such as pain, nausea, insomnia and skin conditions.

The fund was founded by a previous patient and is supported by members of the public and local businesses.

Lynne Alderson, the wife of an Arla Foods employee, recently underwent surgery for breast cancer and is receiving aromatherapy at the hospital.

She suggested helping the fund to say thank you to the staff for helping her recover and to ensure future patients benefit from the service.

Aromatherapist Kathryn Almond said: "We rely on the help and support of local people to help us to continue to provide this beneficial service and, once again, they have done us proud.

"We would like to thank everyone at Arla Foods for their help."