A GOLF tournament was money in the bank for three charities yesterday.

Twelve teams paid £150 each to take part in a competition for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Mayor Peter Spencer's three charity choices, Zoe's Place, Diabetic UK and Teesside Hospice.

Even before players teed-off at Brotton, east Cleveland, the money raised seemed certain to beat last year's £1,000 total.

The success of the council's second annual golf day was guaranteed by three big sponsorship deals.

Mowlem plc, the council's preferred developer for its schools Private Finance Initiative contract, donated £500. The council's highways partner, McAlpine, provided a £450 hospitality package for a Boro home game next season to be auctioned and CL Prosser and Company, a local iron and steel merchants and skip hirecompany, also made a donation.