A NORTH-EAST charitable foundation has received £50,000 to boost a new campaign.

The County Durham Foundation received the cash from a local couple, who wanted to use their money to set up a fund to help children and young people in County Durham and Darlington.

The organisation is a local charity which raises money from individuals, companies and trusts, and distributes it to grassroots charities in County Durham and Darlington.

This year, it has distributed £1.7m, an increase of 100 per cent on last year.

The money is a boost to the foundation's aim of raising £3m by 2006.

The couple, who wish to remain anonymous, had considered setting up their own charitable trust but giving the cash to the foundation meant they were spared the expense and administrative problems of setting up a trust.

The foundation is hoping to encourage more people to think of donating or leaving money in their will. One of its fundraising strategies is to raise awareness among local solicitors, who can pass the information on to their clients when making wills.