CHILDCARE students from Bishop Auckland College donned their pyjamas for a day at college and raised £470 for a local baby hospice.

Ten BTEC early years diploma students and two of their tutors wore pyjamas to and from college earlier this month to raise funds for Zoe's Place Baby Hospice, in Normanby, Cleveland.

Zoe's Place was the first baby hospice to open in the UK and offers palliative and respite care for babies and infants up to five years old.

It gets no Government funding and relies on fundraising.

Childcare lecturer Elizabeth Anderson said: "The group originally visited the hospice with their course and were so moved by the work carried out that they decided to do something themselves at college to help."

They visited the hospice recently to present the cheque to the charity.

Mark Guidery, hospice chief executive, said: "On behalf of the organisation, I am delighted to receive this cheque."

For information, about the hospice, visit www.zoes-place.org.uk or call 0151-228-0353