BOWLING clubs across County Durham raised hundreds of pounds to keep a lifesaving charity airborne.

Each season a different club from the County Durham Central Ladies League gets to nominate a charity to support throughout the year.

This year it was the turn of Bishop Auckland Ladies Bowling Club which chose the Great North Air Ambulance and managed to raise £1,376.23 for the charity.

The club hosted charity events and stalls and collected funds at a home event which featured a singles tournament and the Doris Rewcastle Trophy in memory of a former president and secretary.

The campaign coffers were further boosted at a pairs event at Newton Hall and triples competition at Pelton Fell.

Club president Eileen Atkinson said: "We'd like to thank everyone for their support during our charity year, also to everyone who donated gifts for our charity days and raffles.

"We have chosen to help the air ambulance in previous years and once again felt it was a good cause to support, it helps so many people but gets no Government funds.

"We were really proud of the amount we managed to raise for them."