A DARING pensioner who braved the icy North Sea to in a fundraising dip has handed over a cheque to a children's hospice.

Helen Lavery, a regular dancer at Redcar's Coatham Bowl, took part in the Boxing Day dip in aid of Zo's Place, in Normanby, Middlesbrough.

The hospice cares for youngster's living with life-limiting illnesses and is a self-funding charity.

Mrs Lavery, who lives in Normanby, said: "It was certainly a very cold fundraising effort but a lot of fun.

"The important thing was raising money for a worthy cause and those children need it."

A giant cheque for £500 was handed over on Monday during the Pensioners' Dance at Coatham Bowl.

Fellow dancers Anne Stracey and Hazel Griffiths collected donations during the popular New Year's Eve Dance.

Mrs Lavery and her 12-year-old grandson, John-Paul, also gathered sponsorship from friends and neighbours in the Normanby area.

Kevin Paul, the music organiser at the weekly dance at the venue, joined Mrs Lavery and hundreds of other fundraisers for the dip at Redcar beach