SCHOOL children have chosen a name for a charity mascot.

More than 3,000 suggested names for a blue panda, the mascot of the North East Autism Society.

The winning entry came from Tegan Lewis, aged six, a pupil at Neville’s Cross Primary School, Durham City, who suggested ‘Pawsum’.

Many schools also held fundraising days, collecting a total of £7,500.

Sophie Clarke, schools fundraiser at the North East Autism Society, said: “The support we’ve had from schools across the region has been fantastic.”