ST TERESA’S Hospice launches Pawtraits, a virtual competition to find the region’s best dressed dogs.

After the postponement of the annual Bark in the Park sponsored walk the hospice needed to combat the acute shortfall in funding.

For a minimum donation of £5 entrants can post a picture of their pooch on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtags #StTsPawtraits and #IDonated and they will be entered for judging in the competition.

Bark in the Park takes place every year in South Park, Darlington, raising around £10,000 towards the annual £3m costs to provide free day, in-patient and community care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire.

Jane Bradshaw, Hospice chief executive, said: “We appreciate how much dog-lovers enjoy Bark in the Park

“In the meantime we thought a virtual competition would raise some urgently needed funds and have a lot of fun”