A PRISON dog display team has enlisted the help of a former Sunderland footballer for its next charity show.

Durham's Frankland Prison dog display team gives demonstrations of its every-day work at shows to raise money for charity.

Former Sunderland striker Eric Gates has agreed to be the gun-toting criminal that the dogs seize when the team performs at a British Red Cross open day at East Durham and Houghall Community College's Houghall site, Durham, on Sunday, August 20, from 3pm.

Display team chairman Alan Collings said of the former player's involvement: "He has been very supportive when we have done fundraising events in the past. He'll be a criminal running off and firing a gun and the dogs will go and get him and put the bite on him, but he'll be perfectly safe as he will be padded."

The team began performing at shows last year, showing how dogs search for missing prisoners, drugs and explosives, and raised £500 for the children's heart unit at Newcastle's Freeman Hospital.

Mr Collings added: "This year we hope to hand over £2,000 to the children's cancer ward at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle. The Prison Service Charity Fund has promised to match what we raise pound for pound.