A charity which aims to raise £500,000 for brain haemorrhage research is seeking the help of pubs in the Sedgefield borough.

Organisers of the Clarke Lister Brain Haemorrhage Foundation have produced a charity football card which it wants to sell in pubs.

In return for selling the cards, the foundation will organise a full charity show every 12 weeks.

The event could be a comedy night, karaoke, live entertainment or whatever pub regulars want.

Fundraiser George Stuart, a former stand-up comedian, said: "It will be a thank you for the pub and their customers for supporting the appeal."

The foundation was started after the death of ten-year-old Clarke Lister, of Peterlee, from a brain haemorrhage in 1997.

The charity aims to create a support network to give counselling for brain haemorrhage survivors and their families, and for research.

The campaign office is in The Priory Rehabilitation Centre, in East Durham, which is the first in the region to specialise in recovery after brain injury.

The appeal has proved so successful that it is expanding, and organisers believe it will eventually become a national charity.

Any pub which wants to support the appeal and get four free charity shows a year can contact George Stuart on 07811 906983.