MORE than half a century of work for good causes by members of Swindon Lions Club has been recognised with the unveiling of a plaque at the Central Library.

Mayor Kevin Parry did the honours on Saturday and used the occasion to praise the club's contribution to life in the town.

He said: “Today is to commemorate what Swindon Lions Club have been doing since 1964 and to highlight what the organisation does.

“I think it’s great it has ended up in the Central Library in the central part of Swindon.

"Part of it is recognising the work they do and the money they raise that goes to charities in Swindon. They’ve donated to Dressability, Brighter Futures and so they’ve helped important causes in Swindon, so credit to them.”

President of the group for the past 25 years, Maurice Watson was one of the members at the ceremony.

He said: “Today has been great. There was difficulty at first finding somewhere to put it but then we chose for it to be here.

" We chose for it to be here because it’s a community place so many people will see it."

In the years since the Lions Club started in Swindon it has raised £350,000 for local good causes. Its biggest annual fundraising event is the fireworks display at the Polo Ground.

The Lions Club, which celebrated its centenary last year, is the largest service organisation in the world and has 1.4 million volunteers in more than 200 countries.