CANAL boat Bramble is sailing closer to becoming a “mane” attraction after Kidderminster and District Lions Club donated £500 towards her transformation.

The group raises money for charitable causes across Wyre Forest, through annual events, such as their touring Santa’s sleigh and the Arley to Stourport raft race.

The donation will go towards The Shuttle’s Bramble Appeal, to raise £7,000 to get the 1934 working boat at Stourport Canal Basins restored to its former glory.

It is hoped that schoolchildren and visitors will be able to step on board to learn about life on the waterways in times past.

Colin Hill, Lions Club president, said: “Supporting local initiatives in the community is an important part of a Lions Club’s service, particularly youth projects.

“The Kidderminster and District Lions Club has given support to the Bewdley Youth Cafe and many of the organisations that benefitted from the Christmas float tours were running youth teams.

“The Bramble project is an excellent way of educating young people in the history of the canals and how important they were to the growth of Stourport, also celebrating the work of the engineer James Brindley and the navvies that worked on the canals.”

Pauline Annis, chairman of Stourport Forward, which owns the boat, said: “I would like to thank the Kidderminster Lions for their generous support. This money will enable us to buy more of the materials we need for the restoration of Bramble.

“We look forward to inviting the Lions to come and see the boat when it is in a more advanced state.”

Cafe Masala Indian restaurant and takeaway in Kidderminster will be spicing up our appeal by donating 30 per cent of its takings on Monday towards the Bramble fund.The Mill Street eaterie will be open from 5pm until 11.30pm. To book a table, call 01562 744600 or 01562 751133.

Ways to jump aboard our Bramble Appeal: If you or your school or group can organise a fund-raising event, contact The Shuttle and we will help publicise it by featuring it in our weekly coverage of the appeal.

If you wish to send a donation, make cheques payable to Stourport Forward Limited and send them to Jennifer Meierhans, at The Shuttle,6 Towers Buildings, Blackwell Street, Kidderminster DY10 2DY.

Please include your contact details as Stourport Forward would like to respond with letters of thanks to all those supporting the appeal. If you can help with materials for Bramble’s refurbishment, contact Jennifer Meierhans on 01562 633346.For more details of the appeal, contact Shuttle editor Clive Joyce on 01384 358282.