A GENEROUS folk band have raised thousands of pounds towards the care of seriously ill children and their families.

Darlington based group, Great North Road, have been entertaining local shoppers in the town centre for donations over several months and have raised more than £1,500 for sick children and their relatives in the Darlington area.

Local shoppers and well-wishers have been tipping the band, who are also a popular feature of Darlington’s own Folk Club.

The group devote one Saturday each month to busking in the town centre to raise funds for local causes and Butterwick House hospice for babies, children and young adults are one of the charities to have benefitted from the group’s free shows.

Tracy Bowstead, fundraiser for Butterwick House, said: "We are extremely grateful for the funds that have been raised by the band and which are being used to support children from the Darlington area and beyond who are suffering from serious life limiting illnesses.

"Butterwick House provides all of its services to the children and their families completely free of charge and we rely heavily on the generosity of local people to maintain hospice services which are often the only opportunity families have to take a short break from their caring responsibilities."

Great North Road will be entertaining Christmas shoppers in Darlington on Saturday, December 19.