KIND-HEARTED regulars at a village social club have raised more than £5,000 to help sick children.

Staff at Grange Villa Workmen's Social Club, in Front Street, Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, held activities including social evenings, raffles and members raised sponsorship by taking part in the Great North Run and Great North Walk events.

They raised £5,200 for the Tree Tops children's ward at the University Hospital of North Durham, to be spent on new equipment.

Stan Short, club steward, said: "Grange Villa gets a lot of bad press because of the problems we have with crime and drugs.

"But this shows that we also have a great community spirit here.