A FUNDRAISING event to help a North-East couple care for their injured daughter in Greece has raised £3,700.

Ashleigh Stephens, 13, from Brinsley Court, Coundon, County Durham, is undergoing extensive surgery in Athens after being thrown from the back of a moped and through a shop window on the Greek island of Kos.

At first, her parents Darren, 37, and Lorraine, 35, faced having to pay thousands of pounds in medical and transport costs because the accident was outside the terms of a travel insurance policy.

But following the intervention of their MP Derek Foster, who represents Bishop Auckland, and the Foreign Office, the insurance company agreed to meet Ashleigh's expenses.

Mrs Stephens has been by her daughter's bedside since the accident ten days ago and this weekend Mr Stephens flew out to join her, thanks to fundraising by friends in Coundon.

They collected donations and organised an auction, karaoke, buffet and disco in the Foresters Arms. Local businesses supported the efforts and several made £100 donations.

Ashleigh's 15-year-old sister Sian, who flew home from Kos on Friday, attended.

Organiser Susan Masters said: "It went really well, it was full all night and up to now we've raised £3,700. The money is to help pay for accommodation so they've got somewhere to stay in Greece as long as they need.

"If there's any left over we're going to put it into a bank account for Ashleigh so it's there for her. I'd like to thank all of the local companies and the residents for their help, because without them it wouldn't have happened."