A HOST of schools and businesses turned yellow yesterday in a massive cross-town effort to raise cash for a hospice.

St Teresa's Hospice, Darlington, is set to benefit from the Wear Yellow Day, when hundreds of people marked the end of the Sunflower Appeal.

At Sanders Swinbeck Accountants, partner David Sanders was "custard pied", while other firms involved included The Northern Echo, Orange, Halifax, Recognition Marketing and PR, BIB Underwriters, Barclays, Whitfield Insurance, Newton Aycliffe's Learning Skills Council, Sherwoods and the Baydale Beck pub.

Darlington schools, including Rise Carr, Firthmoor, St Augustine's and Ingleton primaries, Beamont Hill School and Carmel Technology College also took part.

Mr Yellow, the event mascot, dazzled the children at Albert Hill Nursery School when he joined them to promote the day.

The children gave a donation to dress in yellow and each received a sunflower emblem. They have raised £66.15 towards the Sunflower Appeal.

Hospice director Jane Bradshaw said: "It is wonderful that the children have been able to help us promote this annual fundraising event.