A 30-strong party from the Hale community is in Israel to see how the £580k refurbishment of Magen David Adom's Hadera station is progressing.

MDA UK's northern region is financing the project and Hale supporters have committed to finding £105,000 for the blood donation area of the station. In total, £310,000 has been raised to date.

Hale congregants have been generous supporters of the emergency medical service. In 2004, shul members dedicated an armoured ambulance. In 2008, the community donated an emergency response motorbike.

Northern regional MDA director Richard Simon said: "We are looking forward to the huge impact the refurbished Hadera station will have in enabling MDA to save even more lives."