A PILE of more than 1,700 used ear plugs has resulted in cash donations to three North-East hearing support organisations.

Employees from seven companies with operations in the Tees Valley have been saving the ear plugs to raise money for deaf and hearing impaired children and their families.

The Cochlear Implant Parents Support Group North-East, the Child Deaf Youth Project and the Hearing Impaired Service have gained more than £500 each.

Workers at px Limited, Costain Oil, Gas & Process Ltd, Aker Kvaerner, Capes, Interserve, EI-WHS and Siemens were all involved. It follows the introduction of a fundraising, health, safety and environmental initiative suggested by Aker Kvaerner project manager Stuart Fawdon and was supported by all on site contractors.

"Stuart's idea was to get us to provide special receptacles across the site to collect the used plugs and donate a pound for each and every one collected," said Ian Clifford from px Limited, which operates Teesside Power Station.

"Workers benefit from wearing ear protection, which raises their awareness to health and safety at work, the environment benefits because the plugs are disposed of in a controlled manner and the deserving organisations have each received a healthy donation as a result."