A BUSINESSMAN who held a golf tournament to celebrate 20 years of trading in Bishop Auckland has presented the proceeds from the event to charity.

Joe Walters, who runs Choice soft furnishing store, in Newgate Street, asked friends and fellow businesspeople to donate money to the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation. The donations from the golf tournament at Brancepeth Castle Golf Club totalled £1,000. Mr Walters said: "Rather than people pay an entry fee or anything like that, I just asked for donations.

"I have been a supporter of the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation for some time and I wanted to give the money to that."

Carole Lister, who established the charity in memory of her son, Clarke, who died after a brain haemorrhage when he was ten years old, said she was overwhelmed by Mr Walters' generosity.

She said: "It is overwhelming for someone like Joe to support us like this. It is a fitting tribute to Clarke."