More than £47,000 has been raised by the Lions Club International for the Torch Appeal at Oswestry’s orthopaedic hospital.

A total of £47,277 was raised by Lions Clubs throughout Shropshire, Cheshire and North Wales after the Torch Appeal was taken up as a major appeal by the charity’s district organisation.

Oswestry president Clive Humphries said: “We were delighted that the district chose to make the Torch Appeal one of its major beneficiaries. The money was raised by all the clubs throughout the district in their day to day fundraising activities.”

Gwilym Owen, appeals director for the Torch Appeal, said: “They have done a tremendous job. It has been raised by the Lions International District which covers North Wales, Shropshire and into Stafford and Cheshire I think.

“In Oswestry they raised £10,000. The icing on the cake was when they reached half their figure, over £20,000, they went to Chicago, their headquaters, and they match funded it.

“Their initiative in raising the money has been superb. To raise this amount is a credit to them.”

Mr Owen said the money would be used to help equip the new physiology laboratory.

He also said they were now coming to the end of the appeal, but fundraising was continuing.

He said the builders would finish at the site by the middle of April, with equipment and staff moving in over the the following two or three-month period.

The Torch building will be the UK’s only dedicated centre to help physically disabled children.