FOUR young charity crusaders completed a sponsored walk to raise funds for a blind charity.

Twelve-year-old Danielle Hind organised the five-mile trek from her home in Trimdon Village, through Fishburn and on to Sedgefield.

Along the route, she and her fellow walkers - brother and sister James and Dominique, and friend Brook Stephenson - collected money from passers-by.

The money they raised - about £80 - is to be donated to the charity Retinitis Pigmentosa to carry out research into the condition of the same name.

Danielle was inspired to complete the sponsored walk by her aunt, Sharon Metcalfe, who is losing her sight because of the disease, which slowly destroys the retina.

Mrs Metcalfe said: "Danielle came up with the idea herself because she wants to help find a cure or at least a way of prolonging a sufferer's sight. I'm so proud of her. Although it's probably too late for me, we hope treatment can be found to help others in the future."