A TEAM of shoe shop assistants are tightening their laces to prepare for a charity race.

Ten colleagues from Emotion Shoes, based in Thornaby, Teesside, have been sponsored to compete in Cancer Research UK's Race for Life this weekend.

The crew, who will compete at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough, on Saturday, are hoping to secure about £500 in sponsorship.

Sara Oxley, product purchaser with the company, which provides shoes for wider feet, said everyone was enthusiastic about the company's second Race for Life attempt.

She said: "Cancer has affected us all in some way or another and that is our inspiration.

"We rarely get together outside of work hours and this is an opportunity for us all to help such an important cause."

Managing director at Emotion, Paul McDermott, has promised to match the total amount of sponsorship raised by the team.

He said: "They have all worked extremely hard organising this event and securing an impressive amount of money.

"We are pleased to be able to mark their achievements in this way."

This year will see Race for Life back in Middlesbrough for the ninth year and this will be the fourth time at the National Trust property, Ormesby Hall.

With 2,000 participants in last year's event, the race is one of the best supported in the North-East.

The course at Ormesby is a single-lap course of farm track and woodland pathway and is enclosed within the grounds of Ormesby Hall.