THERE was a blaze of colour at a North-East company last week when 400 staff members sprang into action to raise money for charity.

Global science company Synetix announced that its chosen charity for 2002 would be the Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle.

To launch the partnership, staff celebrated the charity's national Daffodil Appeal and every member of staff wore a daffodil pin.

Sally Jones, Synetix communications executive, said: "We always have great fun raising money for our chosen charity and this year will be no exception."

Staff can look forward to a number of fundraising events, including an abseil down Middlesbrough's Transporter Bridge and a women's driving challenge.