SCENES of East Lancashire have helped talented painter Keith Melling raise £84,000 for Pendleside Hospice.

Cards and calendars featuring images of Pendle and other stunning local scenes have been sold to raise money for the charity which helps people with life-limiting illnesses free of charge.

Keith said: “The hospice approached me about using some images on their cards. In 2005 I provided them images for their 2006 calendar and I have been supplying them with images ever since.

“There’s no money involved in it for me, but it’s all for a good cause. I was quite honoured to be asked if they could use my paintings.

“The calendars feature local scenes like Pendle, but also the Lake District and the Dales.

“I have always painted and have done it professionally since 1983.

“My first exhibit was in 1966. I have had other jobs, but I have always considered myself an artist.”

Keith, who runs Keith Melling Art Gallery in Wheatley Lane Road, Fence, uses a mixture of oils, pastels, water colours and acrylics when creating his stunning pieces of art.

He said: “Pendleside is a very worthy cause. They need an awful lot of money to run it.

“Around 1,500 are printed each year and they have sold out each year.

“It’s something I hope to continue with in the future – as long as they still wish to use my images.”

The hospice costs more than £3.7million per year to run.

A grant from the NHS Clinical Comm- issioning Group provides approximately 26 per cent of running costs but the balance, more than £2.7million, is raised locally.

Christina Cope, the hospice’s fundraising manager, said: “We’re very grateful to Keith for his support with his paintings to the hospice over the years.

“The proceeds of the 2015 calendar will help support the vital work we do to promote and enhance quality of life for people with a life-limiting illness, and their families.”