A FORMER mayor has raised more than £25,000 for two children's charities.

Councillor Eileen Rochford, the former Mayor of Durham, raised the money for the Butterwick Children's Hospice and Round Table Children's Wish during her 12 months in office, which ended in May.

The Butterwick Children's Hospice, based in Stockton, looks after terminally ill children from across the region, while the Round Table Children's Wish fund allows sick children to fulfil wishes, such as swimming with dolphins or having a book published.

The money was raised through a variety of events during Coun Rochford's year in office, including the Civic Ball, race-nights, cricket matches, a sponsored toddle and a non-uniform day at eight schools in the city.

She will hand over the cheques to the charities at a reception in the town hall on Tuesday. Butterwick Hospice founder Mary Butterwick will be there to collect the donation.

She said: "We are delighted and grateful that Eileen chose to support the Butterwick Children's Hospice during her year of office. This kind of support really does make a huge difference to the lives of our children and their families."