MANAGERS based in the highest office block in the North-East are walking tall after learning they have helped hospital patients.

Bosses at Centre North East, in Middlesbrough town centre, decided not to send out corporate Christmas cards.

Instead, they made a donation of £500 to the town's James Cook University Hospital.

The money will be divided between the Marton Day Unit and the 23-bed stroke init rehabilitation ward.

Sharon Tulloch, the clinical matron for elderly care services, said: "Next year we plane to increase the provision of acute stroke care and the money from Centre North East will be invaluable to help with the next stage of the ward's development.

"Everyone is so grateful for the donation and Centre North East's interest in elderly care on Teesside.

"Staff and patients are delighted they thought of us.

"Elderly care should be a subject close to all our hearts, as we will all get old one day.