ipswich: An appeal launched to help young women break free from vice and drug addiction has received a cash boost thanks to the generosity of a community group.

The Somebody’s Daughter campaign was created in response to the killings of five sex workers in the town in late 2006.

Former forklift truck driver Steve Wright is serving a life sentence for the murders of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls.

The appeal – a registered charity – has raised tens of thousands of pounds since its inception in 2007.

And now the fund pot has been bolstered with a �1,300 donation from the Lodge Rushmere Ladies Freemasonary group.

The cash was raised during the course of the two-year tenure of former master of the lodge, Sue Stone, who selected Somebody’s Daughter because she was keen to support a Suffolk charity. “I was the domestic abuse officer for Babergh District Council and I wanted to donate to a local cause working to help abused women,” said the 64-year-old.

The lodge was invited by Ipswich mayor John Le Grys to afternoon tea in his parlour at the town hall as a thank you for their efforts.

They presented the mayor with a book celebrating the 2008 centenary of women freemasons.

“We give a lot of money to various good causes and we are not always thanked so it’s lovely that the mayor took the time to show his gratitude to us,” said Ms Stone.

n Anyone interested in becoming a freemason should call Ms Stone on 01473 744534.