A mayor has donated more than £1,000 to a hospice as part of a pledge to help out charities across the borough throughout his time in office.

The Mayor of Pendle, Cllr Yasser Iqbal, made a donation of £1,130 to Pendleside Hospice during a visit to the palliative care centre.

The money is part of his mayoral allowance which he pledged he would be donating entirely to charity during his year in office.

Councillor Iqbal was given a guided tour of the hospice by the chair of trustees David Brown during which he met staff and day-care patients in the health and well-being services department.

He said: “Pendleside Hospice falls in my ward of Brierfield and Reedley and it does such a fantastic job for the community.

"I will be donating the rest of my allowances to other charity groups in the coming weeks.”

Councillor Iqbal, a barrister and Labour councillor, began his year of office in May. His wife Mariam is this year’s Mayoress of Pendle and her charity committee will also be supporting Pendleside.

Other causes the couple will be supporting are Nelson Community Masjid (NCM) Foodbank, Curry On The Street, Rise Support and Hope For Mankind.