ABOUT 300 balloons were released into the sky over Darlington yesterday to raise funds for the special baby care unit at Northallerton's Friarage Hospital.

The hospital unit has been chosen by Cummins Engines as its charity for the year, and the balloon launch took place at its Yarm Road site.

The event was organised by three university students on a one-year placement - Robert Irwin, from Queen's University, in Belfast, Matthew Jones, from Sheffield Hallam University and Omotolo Adisa, from Manchester University.

Mr Irwin said: "There are 16 students on placement and we were split into groups and asked to come up with different fundraising ideas.

"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."

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

The people who return balloons from the nearest amd furthest distances will win a £20 gift voucher.