A £250,000 cash boost has been pledged to the people of Much Wenlock by the outgoing owners of the town’s nursing home in recognition of their fundraising efforts over the years.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust has agreed to give the cash to Much Wenlock Town Council to manage after formally selling the Lady Forester Community Nursing Home to Shropshire firm English Care.

Councillor David Turner said it was a “significant and hugely welcome sum of money” and would be used to help provide care for the elderly and vulnerable in the town during difficult times.

Nick Abbey, chief executive of ExtraCare, said the cash was being made available in recognition of the sums raised by Much Wenlock to help the survival of the home during the years that ExtraCare were running it.

He said today: “I am delighted our trustees agreed to make this gift to Much Wenlock.

“We value the help we have received over many years from local people and were keen to put something back into the town.”

It is expected that a fund will be set up by Much Wenlock Town Council to ensure the money is used for the benefit of the community, particularly the elderly.

Councillor Turner said : “The details of how the fund will be run are yet to be finalised.

“What I can say for certain is that it will be for the deserving elderly in Much Wenlock, and it is quite possible that it will be placed in an income-generating fund.

“This is a significant and hugely welcome sum of money, and we are very grateful to The ExtraCare Charitable Trust.”

The Lady Forester Community Nursing Home was a legacy left to the town by Mary Ann, Lady Forester, as a memorial to her late husband.

It operated as a cottage hospital for about 90 years before becoming a nursing home with four GP beds funded by the Health Authority.

It was taken over by the ExtraCare Charitable Trust in 1996.

By Wayne Beese