A cheque of £4,412 has been donated by Cheshire West and Chester Council to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

The money has been raised through the recycling of metal retrieved by the Council’s cremation service, following the cremation process.

The scheme is run by the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management and crematoria throughout the UK take part in the recycling scheme. This is the second year it has taken place in Cheshire West and Chester and a local charity is nominated every 12 months to benefit from funds generated from recycling.

Cllr Lynn Riley, executive member for localities, said: “It is extremely pleasing that once again we can present a cheque to a local organisation, this time to the Countess of Chester Hospital.

“Council staff take great care to abide by the wishes of families and friends and the recycling of metal takes place only when express permission has been obtained.”

The cheque has been given to Janet Ratcliffe, head of fundraising at the Countess of Chester Hospital, who said: “We are extremely grateful for this generous donation which will benefit four separate areas that are part of the hospital’s charity.

“The Palliative Care Fund, the Breast Care Trust Fund, the Haematology and Oncology Fund and the Prostate Cancer Fund will each receive £1,103, which will be used to enhance facilities for the benefit of our patients and their families.”