A North East mum who underwent a traumatic pregnancy has raised hundreds of pounds for maternity staff after taking part in a half-marathon.

Dr Lottie Nicholson, who works as a pharmacist in Hartlepool, finished 2022's Great North Run and managed to raise more than £300 for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust.

This comes six years after the 39-year-old gave birth to her son, Rudy, in what proved to be a tough experience which ultimately resulted in Ms Nicholson undergoing an emergency C-section.

During this time, she said the maternity department at North Tees were extremely helpful to her, and she wanted to repay them.

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Speaking on her motivation, she said: "Having Rudy six years ago was a tough experience but the team at North Tees and Hartlepool were amazing.

"The team were so calm and comforting; a nurse even held my hand and talked me through the process.

"They took the time to help me understand why Rudy’s birth happened and helped me to own my story.

“I have a huge amount of respect for the department and the passion that they hold so I chose to undertake Great North Run to raise awareness of the amazing things that they do."

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Ms Nicholson, who took part in the run which spanned over 13.1 miles in South Shields, said she did so to raise awareness for what they do.

Previously, she had taken part in the run to raise money for a mental health charity, in honour of her friend who sadly took their own life.

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She said these runs act as a therapeutic experience to help her process these events, and has helped bolster her physical and mental wellbeing.

“I would encourage anyone to take part in the Great North Run, the best way to enjoy the magic of the day is to fully immerse yourself in it: eat the ice pops, high five the supporters and breathe in every moment (even the tough ones)" she added.

“The clapping, cheering and energy is indescribable and it really does give you the extra strength to reach the finish line.”