Thwaites brewery has provided eight new wheelchairs to help hundreds of people in Lancashire.

Blackburn and Darwen branch of the British Red Cross has been given the chairs for its medical equipment loan service thanks to funds from the brewery's charitable trust.

Gordon Chapman, medical loan co-ordinator for the British Red Cross, said: "Thwaites' generosity has given us a tremendous boost. We would expect these new chairs to help more than 500 people in the region during the next few years."

Avril Haworth, of the Thwaites' charitable trust, said: "It is great to be able to help in this way. We were intrigues to learn that the loan of such equipment can be the difference between someone staying in hospital or going home on time, or enable people to take a holiday with family and friends."

The trust has donated £150,000 and helped more than 150 good causes in the region in recent years.