A CHARITY has set sail with £2,500 thanks to generous staff from Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow.

Shipyard employees Aidan Kerr, Hugh Hampsey and Grant Jackson presented a cheque on behalf of the workforce to Ardgowan Hospice, which was accepted by fundraising officer Elaine McNeill.

The money was raised through the yard's long-running welfare fund.

Around 100 Ferguson's staff have signed up to the scheme, which sees a small amount taken off their wage each month towards good causes.

Workers have been supporting the hospice for more than 20 years and presented the latest cheque on Monday.

Lawrence Gemmell, from Port Glasgow, is the yard's welfare co-ordinator. He said: "It's great how much has been raised once again. "The reason we do it is because everyone here probably knows somebody that's used the hospice at some point in time. "It's somewhere that's close to our hearts."

Each year, the hospice supports around 1,000 people with terminal or life-limiting conditions and their families.

It costs more than £6,000 a day to fund the variety of services run by staff and volunteers.

Bosses say the donation from Ferguson's could pay for over four days' specialist care in the dedicated hospice in-patient unit.

Fundraising officer, Elaine, said: "We're really grateful for all that they do for us .

"It's testament to the local workforce what they do for their community.

"It's absolutely amazing."