MORE than 150 people turned out in the rain for a sponsored toddle and raised almost £2,000 for a charity which provides a home from home for families of sick children.

Youngsters and their parents took part in a Toddle Waddle, at Hamsterley Forest, and collected cash for the Sick Children's Trust, which supports families while children undergo treatment.

The walk was organised after the trust helped the family of 20-month-old Connor Bolton, from West Auckland, who was diagnosed with cancer - which is now in remission - on his first birthday.

Connor was treated at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle, and his family stayed at the trust's Crawford House centre.

"He's had ten months of treatment," said Connor's grandmother Kate Bolton. "Most families can't afford to give as much as they'd really like so we organised the walk to try to give a small token of thanks for their healing care. We'd like to thank everyone who took part."

The youngsters were sponsored between £1 and £100 for the toddle, and Connor will go to the RVI with his father, John-Paul, and sister, Morgan, to present the money next month.