A corner of an ancient cathedral has been transformed into an oasis of colour for a traditional charity event.

Brightly-coloured sunflowers - each handmade by local schoolchildren - were being hung on trees in Durham Cathedral yesterday.

The sunflower event, now in its eighth year, is staged by St Cuthbert's Hospice, based at Merryoakes, in Durham City, and is designed to raise awareness of the annual sunflower appeal staged by the national hospice movement.

Almost 1,400 children from 15 County Durham schools volunteered to make their own sunflowers and many visited the cathedral yesterday to hang their artificial blooms on trees in the cathedral.

The sunflowers will be on display until June 20 to draw attention to the campaign, which brings in several thousand pounds to the hospice.

This year, the event coincides with the hospice's Key Appeal to raise the money for a £3.2m extension providing 24-hour specialist palliative care.

Hospice manager Margaret Jefferson said: "It has become an annual event and we are very grateful to the cathedral and the schools for taking part."