DAYS after reaching the quarter-finals of this year's Crufts flyball competition - relay-racing for dogs - the Barnard Castle Dog Training Club took part in the Great North Dog Walk.

They raised £1,700, to be divided between the special care baby unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, the intensive care unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital, Border Collie Rescue, in Richmond, and the Barney Bullets Flyball Team.

The Barney Bullets, part of the dog training club, hope to reach the flyball finals at Crufts for the third year, but funds are needed for travel expenses, accommodation and team kits.

The club hopes to make the walk an annual fundraising event.

Extra funding could be used to launch a second Barney Bullets flyball team.

Club member Gina Russell said: "The Barney Bullets is the original flyball team from Barnard Castle DTC and they have had a successful year competing against the top teams in the country.