A RACE day with a difference has been organised to raise money for charity.

The Mascot Three-Legged Derby will be held on Butterwick Hospice Care race night at Sedgefield Racecourse today.

North-East celebrity H'Angus the Monkey, mascot of Hartlepool United Football Club, is among more than 20 sporting mascots lined up for the one-furlong event.

The second unconventional race of the evening is the Hobby Horse Oaks, an initiative dreamed up by the hospice. Regular racecourse sponsor Saltwell Signs is making the 50 hobby horses for racegoers to use, with prizes for best turned out hobby horse and jockey.

General manager Jim Allen said: "We're turning our May Saturday meeting into a gala affair for a most worthy good cause.

"We'll be opening the gates at 2.30pm and showing the FA Cup Final on the giant Tote Screen.

"There will be a funfair for children and a tae kwon do display and then the racing begins at 6.15pm."

Mr Allen said: "The Butterwick Hospice is a superb charity for us to support and I'm sure our racegoers will come out on or great day of sport."

Admission to the racecourse will be £6 for the course enclosure and £12 for the grandstand, accompanied children under 16 free.