A SUB-ZERO teddy bears' picnic has raised two-thirds of its total target for a North-East hospice.

About £20,000 of the £30,000 target sponsorship has been raised for Heather and Geoff Thompson's planned adventure to hold the most northerly teddy bears' picnic, 700 miles inside the Arctic circle.

The money will go to expanding a child bereavement service at St Teresa's Hospice, in Darlington.

Businesses which want to send teddies on the trip will get their last chance on Saturday, when the Thompsons will be taking sponsorship money and teddies at a coffee morning at the hospice.

Mrs Thompson, 48, who works part-time at the hospice, said the couple had planned to take 300 bears for £100 sponsorship each, but some businesses had donated more.

"Our new total so far raised is £20,000.

"I think on Saturday when people start bringing their bears and their money, the total will rise quite sharply."

Fundraising events, including a bungee jump and a teddy wedding, have already taken place.

The Thompsons are due to set off on the trip on Saturday, June 14, travelling by motorhome to North Cape in Norway - the most northerly point in Europe.

Inspiration for the fundraising idea came when Mrs Thompson and her husband took a school's teddy on a fundraising trip two years ago.

"When we got back, there was more excitement about the bear than us. People are just teddy bear daft," Mrs Thompson said.

"The public response has been wonderful.

"This is a service that is muchneeded and they are wonderful people who are going to be working with the children."

● Businesses are invited to send a teddy on the trip for £100. The coffee morning takes place on Saturday, 10.30am to 12.30pm, at St Teresa's Hospice, Woodland Road, Darlington. For more information, call 01325-382486.