THESE Rotarians aren't afraid of hard work – especially if it means helping a local charity.

Cleethorpes Rotary Club members rolled up their sleeves during their annual working party and laid the foundations for a new path and patio in the St Andrew's Hospice Garden in Grimsby.

The path and patio will lead up to a new serenity room which will provide a quiet place for relatives and patients to spend time together and reflect.

About 15 Rotarians, mainly from Cleethorpes but also from Grimsby Havelock and the Lincoln Colonian Club, spent the day ripping out the slabs of uneven concrete which were previously in place.

They will lay new decorative stones next weekend.

Rotary club president Chris Cook said: "The hospice is one of the good causes we support locally. We are always here to help when we can.

"The hospice is a part of our community and we are very lucky in this town to have such an organisation.

"We chose to do the garden because we were told improvements were needed to the paving to help people use the garden fully. We realised we could do it for them with a number of volunteers from the club.

"Like all volunteer groups it gives you a buzz to help. It is also an opportunity for our members to work together on a project, particularly on a sunny day like this. We enjoy it."

The brains behind the working party were Jeff Lynn and Rob Wall who organised the event.

Jeff added: "It is just a case of getting all the guys together as a team.

"Importantly, there is nobody in this team that hasn't been affected directly or indirectly by the hospice.

"Helping today is what the Rotary club do, it is about fellowship and friendship and putting something back into the community."

The Rotary club is also raising more funds for local charities by helping the popular Rumble Band celebrate their 25th anniversary.

The band will hold a charity night at the Beachcomber on Saturday, September 18, from 8pm.

Tickets cost £15 and are available from The Beachcomber box office on 01472 812666, Cleethorpes Tourist Information Office, Off The Beaten Tracks in Louth on 01507 607677 and Paul's Music, Scunthorpe on 01724 867650. Full details in tomorrow's paper.