FREEMASONS from north Essex have raised funds to support research grants.

Freemasons across the country raised a total of £2.3 million for Royal College of Surgeons research grants.

And the total was reached with help from freemasons in Brightlingsea and Clacton who raised £5,500 towards the Essex total of £157,600.

Fundraising in the Colchester area reached £8,000 and in the Frinton, Harwich and Manningtree areas, freemason raised £4,000.