KEEN football fan Lesley Colley roped in fellow Sunderland supporters after bouncing back from breast cancer surgery.

She kicked off a fundraising drive among members of the Chester-le-Street and District branch of the Sunderland AFC Supporters' Association.

It culminated in a sell-out charity night at the branch's home base, at Relton Terrace Workmen's Club, in Chester-le-Street.

With other funds raised by branch members the total collected topped £2,500. Ms Colley decided to split the total raised between St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham, and Macmillan Cancer Care Nurses.

A cheque for £1,000 was handed over on the night to St Cuthbert's Hospice community fundraiser Caroline Broadfoot by invited guest, ex-Sunderland player and Hartlepool manager Martin Scott.

Branch chairman Mick Goulding said: "Lesley has been the inspiration behind this.

"She underwent the surgery and decided to do something to help cancer charities in the area.

"But it has been taken up by other branch members, and despite the woes of the Sunderland team on the pitch, the branch is thriving off it."

Other contributions came from branch social secretary Kevin Atkinson's stag night, in Bolton, prior to an England international in Manchester, which raised £250.

The branch also held a successful Christmas raffle to boost the total.

Despite Sunderland's disappointing season, the branch continues to flourish, recently staging its successful tenth annual Sportsmen's Dinner at the Stadium of Light.