ENERGETIC pupils scooted around the schoolgrounds in pursuit of Santa to raise much-needed funds for a popular charity.

More than 200 pupils at Gurney Pease Academy, Darlington, staged a sponsored Santa Run on the playground, the second event in recent weeks in aid of St Teresa’s Hospice.

Every year the hospice needs at least £4m to continue its work to help people with life-limiting illnesses in Darlington, South Durham and North Yorkshire, offering in-patient, day and community services.

The school choir already raised money by singing carols in Queen Street Shopping Centre and the Santa Run is expected to bring to several hundred pounds the amount realised for St Teresa’s.