TABLE tennis players might not have much ping left in their step by the time they reach the end of a 24 hour charity challenge.

Bishop Auckland Table Tennis Club started a sponsored pingpongathon at 10am this morning (Friday, April 3) and will play through the night until 10am on Saturday, April 4.

A table was set up at Tesco Extra, at St Helen Auckland, near Bishop Auckland, and supermarket customers and staff helped a rota of around 25 club members pass balls across the net none stop for 24 hours.

Club chairman Matt Porter said: “A national level game would last about 20 minutes but we take turns to the full 24 hours.

“There is a great sense of camaraderie, the Tesco staff are very supportive and it is good fun, though it does get tough when it is cold and dark.

“Quite a few people got involved, especially children, and it is for a brilliant cause.”

Collections made on the day and sponsorship money will be donated to the club’s charity of the year Butterwick Hospice and they hope to get close to or even exceed last year’s £800.

The Good Friday challenge was the third 24 hour pingpongathon the club has taken part in – last year it was the only one in the country to do a Pink Pong event in aid of Cancer Research UK.

The event was also a chance for the club, which is based at Bishop Barrington School in Bishop Auckland and runs sessions in Spennymoor, Wolsingham, Newton Aycliffe, Barnard Castle and soon Shildon, to introduce new people to the game.