STAFF at a Newton Aycliffe office have joined forces with factory workers on the town's industrial estate to raise funds for the Butterwick Hospice.

Workers at the Lloyds TSB Word Processing Centre, above Blakes pub, took part in the hospice's 2000 for 2000 scheme.

The aim was to raise £2,000 during the year 2000 and staff at Lloyds have taken part in a number of events since last January to reach their target.

The Lloyds fundraising efforts included a wrong trousers day, Grand National gamble, Easter raffle, coffee mornings, second-hand goods sale and raffles.

Office manager Sue Murray said: "It was terrific, we had a tremendous time - we're very fond of dressing up and we really enjoyed doing it."

Over the year the staff managed to raise £1,000, which was doubled up to £2,000 under the Lloyds TSB matched-giving scheme.

Meanwhile, managers and shop-floor staff at PWS Distributors Ltd handed the hospice a cheque for £18,500 raised during the Great North Run.

Staff at PWS raised more than £9,000 when they took part in last year's half marathon, and the company matched it pound for pound.

Trevor Newlove, from the Butterwick Hospice, said: "You can imagine my sheer delight when I got the phone call about that - it was wonderful."

Mr Newlove visited Newton Aycliffe to collect £18,500 from PWS, and £2,000 from Lloyds TSB.