TRADERS from as far afield as southern Ireland converged on Durham for an annual shopping event.

The Durham Shopping Extravaganza, now in its 14th year, attracted about 60 stallholders selling a wide range of goods, including shoes, bags, clothes, jewellery, food and furniture at the Ramside Hall Hotel.

Organised for charity, all proceeds from the event, including ten per cent of every stall's profits, go to local good causes.

To date, it has raised more than £120,000.

Joint chairwoman Empy Iremonger said this year's extravaganza, on Wednesday and Thursday, was as successful as ever.

"We always do it for two days around the middle of October, and it just gets bigger and bigger every year," she said.

"The idea behind it is to help County Durham and North Eastern charities."

The beneficiaries of this year's event are Rukba North-East, which helps people who have served the community, the Sunshine Fund children's charity, and Breast Cancer Care.