Masons have swooped to the rescue of a Girl Guide group whose tents were ruined due to water seeping into their storage hut.

The water damaged some of the Great Ayton Girl Guides camping equipment beyond repair, thus preventing the youngsters from attending local and national Jamborees.

Ayton Lodge had already given financial assistance towards the repair of the hut roof, and when the extent of the damage to the tents was realised, the lodge donated a further £375 towards the purchase of replacement tents.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The Girl Guides Ayton display with the Lord Lieutenant and Master of Ayton LodgeThe Girl Guides Ayton display with the Lord Lieutenant and Master of Ayton Lodge

But realising the need for further financial funding, the Lodge petitioned the Freemasons Charity Yorkshire North & East Ridings (FCYNER).

They not only donated £350, but were able to access a further £725 from the central Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) in London, as part of their Wellbeing Initiative.

With the £1,450 funding received from local, regional, and central Masonic sources, the Girl Guides in Ayton have purchased three replacement patrol tents, one mess tent, 16 folding camping stools and two cool boxes.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The Ayton Masonic Lodge helped out their local Girl Guide groupThe Ayton Masonic Lodge helped out their local Girl Guide group

They also received funding from the Trefoild Guild ( Girl Guiding Support Group) to purchase further equipment.

The Guides demonstrated some of their new equipment on the High Green in Great Ayton in front of a special guest, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Mrs Jo Ropner, who is also an ambassador for Girl Guiding.

The Lord Lieutenant thanked the Master of Ayton Lodge, Tony Dawson, and assured him that the 83 girls in Great Ayton District Guiding would make full use of all of the equipment attending local and national Jamborees.