YOUNGSTERS traded jeans for genes in a pre-school play-group's first charity event.

They were joined by parents, staff and helpers, who also jumped into their denims for the day at Framwellgate Moor Play Group.

Group leader Jacqui Todd came up with the idea of taking part in the Jeans for Genes appeal day, an event staged annually since 1996 when it was launched by London's Great Ormond Street Hospital to raise money for children with genetic disorders.

She suggested it to parents of the 15 children, aged between two and five, who attend the playgroup on a daily basis, at Framwellgate Moor Community Centre.

Parents were only too keen to help, bringing in a range of homemade food.

One of the parents, Nigel Bland, also gave the group free use of a bouncy castle he owns, to add to the carnival feel of the day.

Ms Todd said: "It went really well. We had all 15 children in wearing jeans and most of the mothers followed suit. Everyone had to pay 50p for the privilege of wearing jeans and we sold the home-baked food, plus tea and coffee to add to the amount raised."

"I've been running the group for three years and it's the first charitable event we've had in that time.

"Given the age of the children, it's limited what can be done. We can't exactly do an obstacle course.

"But everyone enjoyed it and I'm sure we'll be looking to do something in future."

When all the proceeds were tallied up the total raised by the group was £110.50, which will be passed on to the Jeans for Genes Day fund, at Great Ormond Street.