A NATIONAL charity has moved to distance itself from Teesside-based Baby Assist.

Baby Assist, set up to raise funds for hospital equipment for premature babies and those with defects, is being wound up following criticism from the Charity Commission.

The commission said it found no evidence that a single penny had been delivered to charitable causes.

One of the UK's leading premature baby charities, Bliss, said it wished to reassure the public that the majority of charities in the field were "responsible and well managed".

Spokeswoman Bonnie Green said: "People rightly feel let down when a charity they have supported has problems.

"As a well-known charity involved in supporting premature babies and their families, we are very aware that we are raising money for a highly sensitive area.

"We do everything we can to satisfy our supporters in the work we do."