A FUNDRAISING drive by travel agent staff has helped the family of a sick child to collect the money they needed to build her a sensory room.

A race night organised by Hays Travel, on Cheapside, Spennymoor, raised the final £1,000 needed to create the room for four-year-old Shelly Dodds. The youngsters' parents have raised about £8,000 to build the facility at their Ferryhill home, with the support of local residents, companies, schools and organisations.

Shelly, who has a neuromuscular disorder, requires a high level of care from family, carers and staff at Murphy Crescent Special School, in Bishop Auckland.

It is hoped that the new room will help stimulate her.

Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Newcastle football clubs all donated signed shirts and footballs which were auctioned at the event, held in The British Legion Club, Spennymoor.

Local businesses also backed the appeal with donations, sponsorship of races, horses and raffle prize donations.

Kelly Foster, branch manager, said: "The response was fantastic from local businesses and the public in getting behind this event."