A FOUR-year-old from Spennymoor who suffers from Downs Syndrome accepted a cheque on behalf of a trust from a local college.

Gabrielle Toas and her mother, Christine, collected a cheque for £53 from Bishop Auckland College's Spennymoor Computer Learning Centre supervisor, Julie Cairns.

It was raised for the Down Syndrome Educational Trust, coinciding with Down Syndrome Awareness week, which continues until June 12.

The money was raised at the centre during Adult Learners' Week, by raffling prizes donated by the town's Asda. Ms Cairns said: "Christine is a student here and told us about the, trust so we decided it was a worthy charity.

"Gabrielle pops in with her mum sometimes and she is a delight."

Ms Toas said: "We are just setting up a Down Syndrome Educational Trust branch in Darlington for all Down Syndrome children in the region."

The first sessions will be in September.