A HOSPITAL has donated more than £650,000 in grants to good causes in the North-East.

The exact amount distributed by Christ's Hospital in Sherburn, County Durham, during the last financial year was £656,132.

The hospital, also known as Sherburn Hospital, celebrated its giving yesterday by bringing together more than 40 groups which received cash, for a ceremony held on in its grounds.

Stephen Hallett, chief officer at the hospital, said: "Most of these people are volunteers who give their own time and it's good for us to show what our money can do for all their good causes.

"It's a chance for us to meet them, for them to meet each other, and hopefully to meet people doing similar things."

Grants were distributed to groups in County Durham, Darlington, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

Among the biggest winners were the Consett Churches Detached Youth Project, First Stop Darlington, Moving On and The Place 2 B, which each received £10,000.

The County Durham Society for the Blind and Partially Sighted received £5,000.

Charlotte Moore, from the society, said: "The money has been very important for us. It goes towards our talking newspapers - on buying the tapes and CDs we record onto."

Sherburn Hospital is a church-built former leper colony, dating back to 1181AD.

It currently provides residential care for the elderly, supported housing and gives grants with money raised from a range of stock market investments.