STUDENTS from Darlington College of Technology chipped in and did their bit for the Butterwick Children's Hospice during their annual rag day.

About 20 students dressed up in fancy costume to collect donations from town centre shoppers yesterday. They were joined by Spike the Hedgehog, the Stockton hospice's mascot, whose costume was made by inmates at Durham Prison's E-wing.

The hospice cares for youngsters with terminal illness and requires £10,000 a week to pay for four beds.

Pupils at Darlington College have chosen the hospice as their charity for the year.

Future fundraising events planned include a Ready Steady Cook challenge and a murder mystery night.

Student Nicola Stonebank, 18, from Shildon, said: "We visited the hospice and when we found that they depend totally on volunteers and donations we thought we would pitch in and give them a hand."

Ray Laidler, of the hospice, said: "Without the help of people like this we would not have a hospice.