a charm offensive designed to dispel some myths about the Freemasons has been launched.

As part of the nationwide Freemasonry in the Community Week, the 18 masonic lodges in Kidderminster and Stourport, with about 500 members, have embarked on a week-long programme of events.

It includes opening Stourport Masonic Hall for public events and will highlight money given to charities. John McGann, district co-ordinator, is pictured in traditional regalia at Stourport Masonic Hall.

More than £4,000 has been donated by district masons and will be presented to bodies including Kemp Hospice and the Air Ambulance on Tuesday evening at the hall in Severn Road, when prizes of up to £30 will also be handed out to winning schools whose pupils participated in an art competition.

And until Thursday there is an exhibition of masonic regalia - such as aprons, collars and jewels - at Stourport Library.

District co-ordinator John McGann said the male-only society, whose members share information not available to outsiders, is regarded with suspicion by many.

"People say we give a nod and a wink to each other as a hand up, but that doesn't happen at all. Freemasonry is about friendship and interacting with people with feelings of wanting to help others, and to meet people and discuss things," he explained.

"We have all creeds and types of people - French, Irish, Welsh, Scottish, and Catholics and Sikhs. We meet together about eight times a year, as equals."

Unity is preserved by not talking about religion or politics.

Mr McGann, 65, said the society not only helped charities but also supported its elderly brethren and widows and children of those who die.

And he added in contrast to many urban lodges, those in Kidderminster and Stourport were booming in popularity and a £100,000 expansion of Stourport Masonic Hall will be completed by the end of the year.