DARLINGTON’S Marie Curie fundraising group is celebrating two successful fundraising events and is now looking forward to staging a major charity ball.

More than £9,000 was donated to the Great Daffodil Appeal through charity boxes across the Darlington area and at on-street collections supported by the Lions Club.

A spokesman for the group thanked everyone for their contributions and added: “They (members) greatly appreciate the joint effort that has made this year's Great Daffodil Appeal another successful event.”

The collections were made in Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Heighington, Woodham, Hurworth and Croft, Middleton St George and Stapleton and raised £9,776.

The group is also celebrating raising a further £1,041 via a Swimathon at the Dolphin Centre.

The two-day event featured 111 swimmers and Pat Irving, chair of the group, said: "Thank you to all the volunteers who swam and collected sponsorship and also their supporters, for cheering them on and supplying drinks and snacks.

“A big thank you too for the Dolphin Centre for supporting Marie Curie and Adam Walker and his team for running such a brilliant event.

“This biannual event has again been a great success and it's down to the amazing support of people living in the Darlington area.”

The fundraising group is now looking forward to staging its annual Daffodil Ball on September 26 at the Mercure Kings Head Hotel, Darlington.

This year the group are looking for local businesses to take up one of three levels of sponsor packages ranging from £1,000 to £500.

Any interested businesses can contact Rachel Steel on 07968-169260 or through the group's facebook page.