SWEAR jars and smoking fines helped regulars at a Darlington pub raise much needed funds for a special care baby unit.

Around £130 was raised by keen fundraisers at the Joseph Pease pub, in Tubwell Row, for the special care baby unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The unit provides round-the-clock care for newborn babies who are ill or born prematurely.

A swear jar was filled every time an expletive was uttered, while another customer donated every time he went outside for a cigarette.

Fundraiser Keith McFarlane said: “We do quite a lot of fundraising to try and help everybody.

“I have got 16 grandchildren of my own so know how important the unit is.”

A fundraising day for St Teresa’s Hospice is also being held at the pub on Saturday, December 20 and organisers are looking for raffle prizes.

To donate contact 01325-469757 or call in to the pub.