A golf day has boosted charity funds by thousands of pounds.

Top amateur players headed for the green with keen club golfers for this year's event and raised £4,000.

Saltburn Golf Club is donating £2,000 each to the children's ward of the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Brian Cave, of the Great North Air Ambulance, said: "A cheque of this size will keep one of our helicopters in the air for a whole day.

"During that day, we take an average of five calls per helicopter and that donation could mean all the difference when it comes to saving lives.

"Any amount of help is extremely important to the work we all do, so to be handed this cheque is greatly appreciated."

Each year, about 60 teams of four players take part in the event, which is held on August Bank Holiday.

Club secretary Mike Matha said: "That amount of money sounds like a lot of hard work, but the annual golf contest is also a lot of fun.

"Apart from the main event, there's lots of other fundraising going on.

"We all know the money goes to good, needy causes and that's what keeps this competition going."