POLICE officers in Darlington have been raising hundreds of pounds to bring smiles to the faces of sick children in hospital.

There is a lack of Christmas cards at the town's police station because officers decided to donate money to the children's unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital instead of sending cards. They raised £556.

And for a Christmas Day treat, a group of officers on duty visited children who were confined to the ward instead of being at home with their families.

PC Fred Wood, who came up with the fundraising idea, said: "I always think of kids at Christmas, and so this year we decided to do something for them."

The father-of-three, along with colleagues, spent time with the children, letting them try on their hats and ask questions, while enjoying a festive party. There was also live disco music playing thanks to a local disc jockey.

PC Wood's wife, Sandi, asked her colleagues at Netherlaw Surgery, in Stanhope Road, Darlington, to do the same.

Money has also been raised for the unit by police officers undergoing training on a new radio system that will be brought in across Darlington next month.

Fines are issued to anyone who makes an error during training.

The money will help pay for new equipment in the unit. Ward manager Angela Boyes said it was a wonderful gesture.