Delighted staff and pensioners are celebrating after a £7,200 grant from the Standard means a vital shower room can be built at their centre.

Activity hub, Knightswood in Southminster, is a lifeline for its 66 elderly visitors who come from Maldon, the Dengie and South Woodham Ferrers to enjoy a day socialising.

As well as keeping active with flower arranging, seated hockey and bowls, musical bingo and darts, the day centre also offers baths.

But this can prove difficult for some with mobility problems who have to be hoisted into the bath.

This is why the Standard has decided to give the centre a grant, which along with £1,000 from Burnham Round Table, will cover the whole cost of converting a maintenance room into a shower room.

When centre manager Sharon Dodson was told of the grant, she said: “That’s absolutely fantastic.

“I’m all overwhelmed.”