IT is annoying enough when your whites turn blue in the wash - but when it is a parade standard worth several hundred pounds it poses more of a problem.

Wet conditions come with the territory for the Royal Navy, so members of the Spennymoor and Ferryhill Royal Naval Association did not think twice about braving the driving rain to take part in last year's Sea Cadet Trafalgar Day Parade at Chester-le-Street.

But for the standard, which had been carried in countless parades, it was a wash-out.

The rain caused the colours to run and the banner, depicting the group's motif of a crown, anchor and laurels, turned a grubby blue.

The association has now started a fundraising effort to replace it.

The standard holds particular significance for the branch, because its existence prompted the group to reform two years ago.

The branch had been disbanded for many years until chairman Christopher Lewarne, from Tudhoe Colliery, near Spennymoor, was told he had to get rid of the banner if there was no group.

He said: "We think the banner is over 20 years old. But we only reformed a couple of years ago, because I had to reform the association, otherwise I had to get rid of the standard."

The group is trying to raise up to £800 for a new banner and the church service and parade needed to dedicate the standard.

Anyone who would like to help with the fundraising can contact Mr Lewarne on (01388) 810197.