More than 140 Bradford residents were treated to a glimpse of the hallowed halls of the Baildon Masonic Lodge.

The Masons opened their doors as part of Freemasonry in the Community week.

The event was held to dispel myths surrounding the masons, and to highlight charity work.

Cheques totalling £7,800 were handed out at the event at Hoyle Court, Bingley, to charities including the Society for the Blind and Bradford and Shipley Parkinsons Disease Society.

Joanne Hey, welfare visitor with the society, said the £500 donation will be used to set up a transport service. "From a personal point of view I've learned a lot about the Masons this evening. It's a shame that more people don't know what they do," she said. "We're hoping to set up a fund to pay for taxis to get members to our meetings. It would've taken us at least two flag days to raise this amount of money."

The Masons also donated £2,000 to the Lord Mayor's Appeal, for cancer charity, Candlelighters.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Coun Richard Wightman, thanked the masons.

"They have worked for many years to make sure life is better for the people who are not so well off as ourselves," he said. "To do good in stealth is something the Masons have been very good at, but now they are promoting themselves a bit more openly."