NATIONAL housebuilder McCarthy and Stone has donated £500 to two Hereford charities, the Whitecross Club and Blackfriars Rose Gardens.

The donations will help the rose gardens to continue its work restoring Hereford's most historic public garden, while the Whitecross Club aim to encourage more people to stay fit and healthy by taking up squash, tennis and racket ball.

David Meachem, regional sales manager for McCarthy and Stone, said: "It was an absolute pleasure to present these donations to the teams at the Hereford Whitecross Club and Blackfriars Rose Gardens.

"All of us here at McCarthy and Stone's William Grange development wish them every success with their work in helping to improve lives of everyone living in Hereford and its surrounding area."

McCarthy and Stone were building the retirement living apartments at William Grange in Friars Street, Hereford.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the Friends of Blackfriars Rose Gardens, Richard Weston and Anne Harbour, said: "We hope that people living in William Grange will enjoy exploring Hereford city centre and making Blackfriars Rose gardens one of their regular destinations."