A HOSPICE in Darlington has been adopted by the Cornmill Shopping Centre.

The shopping centre has decided that St Teresa's Hospice will be its chosen charity for this year.

A number of shops from the centre have donated gifts and vouchers to the charity to be raffled at its annual ball, on October 6.

The Cornmill Shopping Centre's manager, Albion Small, met the hospice director Jane Bradshaw on Monday to hand over the presents.

The pair dressed up as gangsters to advertise the theme of Speakeasy for a ball this weekend.

Mr Small said: "The Cornmill Shopping Centre is proud to adopt St Teresa's Hospice as its chosen charity, and we look forward to helping support the invaluable work the hospice does in the local community."