A NEW motorcycle has been donated to the North West Blood Bikes charity in memory of a Kendal biker who died volunteering for the organisation.

Nearly 200 people attended Kendal Masonic Hall for the BMW motorbike to be presented by the Freemason of the Province of Cumberland and Westmorland.

It was given in memory of Russell Curwen who died in a crash while transporting vital supplies for the charity in May.

Among those attending the presentation on Monday were Russell's parents Pat Curwen and Ken Curwen, his sister Susan Fiddler, brother Phil and uncle Terry.

Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Cumberland & Westmorland, Worshipful Brother Norman James Thompson DL, said: "The Blood Bikers are unsung heroes, supporting the community at large and to whom we owe a great debt of gratitude."

At Mr Curwen's funeral in May, hundreds of blood bikers from across the UK and Ireland formed a procession from the Junction 36 Auction Mart to Kendal Parish Church.

This was the third motorcycle presented to the Blood Bikes Charities by the Freemasons of the Province of Cumberland & Westmorland. The first was presented in 2017 to the Blood Bikes Cumbria in the north of the County. The second was presented in May this year to the North West Blood Bikes Lancs & Lakes at an annual meeting in Carlisle, just a few days after the tragic death of Russell.

Mr Thompson added the Freemasons will be funding a fourth bike, ensuring that the two Blood Bike charities covering Cumbria both receive two new bikes funded by the organisation.