A WEYHILL care home helped spread the love on Valentine’s Day with a special cheque presentation.

Rothsay Grange hosted the mayor of Test Valley Councillor Carl Borg-Neal as he presented a £2,000 cheque to Age UK Mid Hampshire on behalf of Barchester’s Charitable Foundation.

Berni Martin, customer relationship manager at Rothsay Grange, said: “We’re celebrating community involvement and we’re awarding a fantastic charity. It’s important to support our local charities because it benefits us and them. It’s important for us to open our doors to the local community and invite them in.”

Councillor Borg-Neal said it was a pleasure to present the money as it would go towards programmes that align with his mayoral priorities of promoting health and wellbeing.

The event had also been organised to honour former Test Valley mayor Marion Kerley MBE’s dedication to the community, by volunteering more than 20,000 hours of her time.

Colin Percival, fundraiser, said: “It means everything, it means we can continue the programme, which on average 75 plus people use our wellbeing lunch clubs a week.”

Kathleen Murray-Ure, Age UK Mid Hampshire trustee, said: “It really does help people, it keeps them moving, reduces loneliness, so this has been a huge support for our programme. It’s been a great day to us.”