A MEMBER of staff from a housing association completed Sunday's Great North run dressed as a house.

Following six months of training, members of the finance department at Broadacres, whose head office is based in Northallerton, competed in the half marathon.

When forming the team, the runners opted for a more visual dress code to encourage sponsors and inject a bit of humour in to the day. As a result, team organiser Richard Armitage completed the run wearing a house.

His mother, Pat Lacey, of Northallerton, was enlisted to create a costume that reflected a part of the housing industry. The creation was made of cardboard and carried the logos of the four charities that were to benefit.

Richard, the company's financial performance manager, did not let the weight of the house affect his own performance and he, along with his team members, completed the run.

Richard said: "This is the sixth time I have run the Great North Run but never as a house."

His team mates also dressed to support the charities. Tracey Bell ran for The Children's Society, Val Carveth ran for The Great North Air Ambulance, Mick Whelan ran for Daisy Chain, a care charity for children with special needs, and Simon Hunter pushed a wheelchair competitor in support of Hartlepool's special needs support group.

The team would like to thank everyone who sponsored them.

They raised approximately £1,000 in total.