This is the moment the so-called Sisters of Mercy, from Darlington Operatic Society, used holy water to subject the editor of The Northern Echo to the Ice Bucket Challenge today.

The Northern Echo:

Peter Barron was nominated for the challenge by BBC Tees presenter Mike Parr live during his mid-morning show.

Peter is president of Darlington Operatic Society so he chose three of the stars of the latest production, Sister Act - Sam Morrison, Rhiannon Walker, and Claire Wilmer - to inflict the freezing pain.

Peter said afterwards: "I was expecting a countdown from 10 but they just drenched me without any warning. I'd hoped they'd be the Sisters of Mercy but I was very wrong."

Peter went on to nominate the head golf pro at Rockliffe Hall, John Stacey, to take the challenge, ahead of the English Senior Open, which takes place at the Darlington five-star venue from Friday.

He has also nominated women's world cup-winning rugby player Katy McLean and members of the first-team at Mowden Park Rugby Club in Darlington. They will all be accepting the challenge before Mowden's first home game of the season on September 6.

Colleagues from The Northern Echo and the Darlington & Stockton Times had a collection to raise cash for research into Motor Neurone Disease. The editor is now having a hot toddy.