A PRISON sports day has raised thousands of pounds for the UK's leading children's cancer charity.

The event last month was organised by staff from Northallerton Young Offenders' Institution and held in nine prisons, including Deerbolt Young Offenders' Institution, Barnard Castle, County Durham.

The day included a football tournament, a half-marathon, a strong-person competition, sports quiz and speed-pool contest.

Northallerton raised £800, but when money is collected from all nine prisons, the total is expected to be between £6,000 and £8,000.

It will be donated to Clic Sargent, a charity helping families who have a child with cancer.

A spokeswoman for the Northallerton institution said: "The day was a complete success."