A BRANCH of the child care charity NSPCC has benefited from an evening of entertainment.

The boost follows the annual Chairman's Charity Evening staged by Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council, which covers a collection of villages in the Deerness valley, west of Durham city.

This year's parish council chairwoman, Councillor Jean Chaplow, decided to donate money raised at the event, at Esh Winning Parish Hall, to her chosen charity, the NSPCC.

With the proceeds of a raffle added, the total figure raised was £1,500.

Carol Jackson, NSPCC branch chairman in Durham, who attended the event, visited the parish council offices in Langley Moor to receive a cheque from Coun Chaplow.

She said such continued support was vital to help the charity's projects succeed.

"All the money raised from events like this go to local projects.

"We have three programmes locally, including a Partners and Parenting programme in schools in County Durham.

"We train volunteers to go into schools to talk to children about parenting skills and it sometimes helps to uncover children with problems at home.

"It's wonderful that we've been chosen as the chairwoman's charity this year. We're very grateful."