TRADERS played Santa when they handed over the proceeds of a popular charity event to Durham's Mayor John Lightley.

The Grand Durham Duck Race, held on the River Wear last month by the Durham City Forum, raised £5,400 for the Mayor's Charity Appeal, Wateraid and St Cuthbert's Hospice's Key Appeal to build a day unit.

The forum, made up of stores in the city centre, presented a cheque to Councillor Lightley, and also gave him a sack of plastic ducks donated by the firm Duck of York to give to youngsters spending the festive season on the Treetops Ward at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The ward and the Gala Theatre Stage School are benefiting from the appeal and Coun Lightley will present the ducks today.

Coun Lightley said: "I'm extremely grateful to the Durham City Forum for organising the duck race, which not only provides a fun event for the city, but much-needed funds to numerous good causes.

"It was an added bonus to be given the colourful rubber ducks, so I thank Bill Tasselli at the Duck of York for these. I'm sure it will bring a lot of happiness to the kids over Christmas."

Forum chairman Richard Toynbee said: "The ducks certainly are not your usual every day bath duck.

"We have a zebra, a hen and a giraffe, to name but a few, and we hope these will bring a smile to the children at a time when they cannot share Christmas at home with their families.

"I'm also thrilled that the people of Durham have again come up trumps when it came to buying tickets at this year's race."