A CHARITY football tournament created as a tribute to a woman who died of cancer raised £2,500 for research into the disease on Saturday.

Over 200 supporters were at the annual event at Langley Park Welfare Football Ground, in memory of Mary Hayton, and to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Mrs Hayton, from Sacriston, was 42 when she died from cancer of the pancreas in 2003.

Eileen Fort, Mary's sister, said: "The football tournament gave local people a chance to remember Mary and help raise money for vital research into cancer the same time.

"We have already raised over £12,000 and we are hoping this second football tournament will help to generate more funds for research."

Sacriston Working Men's Club (WMC) beat Langley Park WMC 4-3 on penalties to win the Mary Hayton Charity Shield. Langley Park Ladies beat Sacriston Ladies 4-1 on penalties, while Sacriston over-40s beat Langley Park over-40s 8-1.

Researchers at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research work with clinicians at Newcastle hospitals to help maintain an extensive clinical trials portfolio and ensure local people have access to the latest cancer treatments.

Suzanne McKenna, Cancer Research UK's community fundraiser, said: "Mary's friends and family have raised a huge amount of money for Cancer Research UK and we are very grateful for their support.

"It's thanks to events like this that Cancer Research UK's can support the work of scientists, doctors and nurses in the North- East who are dedicated to curing cancer by understanding its causes and investigating how best to prevent and treat it."