YOUNGSTERS at Dryburn Hospital, Durham, will have plenty of cuddly toys to play with this Christmas.

Staff and drinkers at six city pubs have raised £1,000 for the children's wards, £400 of which was spent on toys.

The other £600 will be spent on equipment when the wards move into the new Dryburn Hospital, in April.

Nursery nurse Sheila Thompson said: "We are delighted. There are lots of babies in at the moment and it is good to get so many teddies."

The fundraising effort was the sixth organised by pub regulars Joe Redman, John Hart and Nick Trowbridge.

It involved bonus ball draws and the sale of lighters at the Saddle Market, Three Horseshoes, Travellers Rest, Bridge Hotel, Old Elm Tree, and Jovial Monk.

Mr Trowbridge said: "Wherever you go you can always get a response when you say it's for the children's ward."