CROWDS turning out to enjoy the family fun at a village gala yesterday were also helping a worthy cause.

As well as the usual entertainment, including live music, fairground rides and stalls at Hurworth Gala, near Darlington, there was also a display in aid of the Jonny Kennedy Appeal, which aims to find a cure for epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

The late Jonny Kennedy, an EB sufferer from Alnwick, Northumberland, appeared in an award-winning documentary about the condition called The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off.

Appeal fundraisers put on a display of classic cars at the gala at Hurworth Grange and charged visitors to be taken for a 12-mile spin in the countryside.

The cars included a Ferrari, similar to that of television character Magnum, a Jaguar like Inspector Morse's, a kit car replica of a Lotus, a Morgan, a couple of Triumph spitfires and a 1960s Triumph Herald convertible.

Simon Robinson, 35, from Darlington, whose ten-year-old son, Sam, has EB, said: "The day went really well. About 700 people attended and many were surprised to find out they could be taken for a spin in the classic cars, as nothing like this has really been done before.

"It attracted a lot of interest and raised over £100. People who lent cars said they were more than happy to help the charity to run similar events in the future.

"If there is anybody out there organising a fair and would like classic cars, they should get in touch."

Mr Robinson can be contacted on 07739 869737.