A FUNDRAISING event to help a North-East couple care for their injured daughter in Greece has raised £3,700.

Ashleigh Stephens, 13, from Brinsley Court, Coundon, is undergoing extensive surgery in Athens after being hurled from the back of a moped through a shop window on the island of Kos.

At first her parents Darren, 37, and Lorraine, 35, faced having to pay thousands of pounds in medical and transport costs because the accident was outside the terms of a travel insurance policy.

But following the intervention of their MP Derek Foster and the Foreign Office, the insurance company agreed to meet Ashleigh's expenses.

Lorraine has been by her daughter's bedside since the accident two weeks ago and last weekend Darren was able to fly out and join her, thanks to the fundraising efforts of a group of friends in Coundon. They collected donations and organised a fundraising auction, karaoke, buffet and disco in the Foresters Arms.

Local businesses supported the efforts and several made £100 donations towards the event.

Ashleigh's 15-year-old sister Sian, who flew home from Kos on Friday, attended the event with several of her friends.

Organiser Susan Masters said the response had been overwhelming, adding: "It went really well, it was full all night and up to now we've raised £3,700.

"The money is to help pay for accommodation so they've got somewhere to stay in Greece as long as they need.

"If there's any left over we're going to put it into a bank account for Ashleigh so it's there for her.

"I'd like to thank all of the local companies and the residents for their help, because without them it wouldn't have happened."