CHARITY bosses were yesterday celebrating a £6,500 donation to a playscheme for disabled children.

Cummins Engines presented the cash to the Darlington After School and Holidays (Dash) project after completing a fundraising drive.

Staff at the Yarm Road factory took part in a series of events over the past year, including a 25-mile sponsored walk, a parachute jump, car wash, football tournaments, quizzes and raffles.

Mike Lambert, chairman of Cummins' community action committee, said: "We are very pleased and proud of all the employees who participated to help raise this fantastic amount for Dash and we hope it helps enormously to fund their planned events in 2005."

The playscheme's organiser, Darlington Association on Disability, was delighted to receive the money.

The charity's chairman, Gordon Pybus, said: "It is a constant financial struggle to maintain the high quality provision that the children need and deserve.

"I can't thank enough everyone at Cummins who took part in this tremendous fundraising achievement and for choosing Dash to be the beneficiaries of their generosity."