HUNDREDS braved multi-coloured paint, powder and bubbles at a forest run in the name of charity.

Young and old gathered at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham today (May 22) for the third annual Rainbow Dash in aid of the Butterwick Hospice.

An estimated £18,000 was raised in entry fees and sponsorship from the 300 participating in the 5k route and the 30 runners who took on the longer 10k challenge.

Helen Kirby, fundraiser for Butterwick Hospice, said: "All the kids really loved it as there was coloured powder at five stations, a bubble man at each one blowing giant bubbles and a foam pit at the end."

Cash raised from the charity's third Rainbow Dash will go towards the nursing, day care, home care and physiotherapy that it offers across its sites in Bishop Auckland, Barnard Castle, Stanhope, Sedgefield and Stockton.

"It's really important as we couldn't open if we didn't have money like that," added Ms Kirby. "It costs us nearly £10,000 a day for all our sites to operate.

"It was a successful event and we are looking to do it at the same time next year."

With the funds raised from this year, the charity will have collected more than £45,000 since starting the event in 2014.

For more information about the event find Butterwick Hospice on Facebook or visit www.butterwick.org.uk