A BUSINESS has donated £10,000 to a hospice which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses.

The Sunderland Marine Mutual Insurance Group, which is based in Aykley Heads, Durham, has given the money to St Cuthbert's Hospice, Durham, to help with the costs of the facility's care.

Geoffrey Parkinson, the company's managing director, said: "The hospice gives care which is second to none. We get hundreds of requests for support every year, but they stood out.

"We recently moved to Durham, and this is a way of us putting something back into the community."

On Wednesday, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, opened St Cuthbert's first inpatient wing, which has ten overnight beds.