THE special baby care unit at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital is getting a boost to its funds from a balloon release.

The hospital unit has been chosen by Cummins Engines as its charity for the year and about 300 balloons were released into the sky from its site in Darlington.

The event was organised by three university students on a one-year placement - Robert Irwin, Matthew Jones and Omotolo Adisa, from Manchester University.

Mr Irwin said: "We were looking at different ways to raise money for the charity and we thought it would be a nice spectacle to see the balloons flying up into the sky.

"We tried to keep them in the Cummins colours of red, black and white and we hope to raise £400 from the event."

A ticket is attached to each balloon and finders are asked to return them.

The person who returns a balloon from the furthest distance away will win a £20 gift voucher. There is also a prize for the person with the closest distance