Youngsters from seven schools in the region entered a Northumbrian Water competition to design, build, decorate and fill a moneybox in a bid to fund a Maggies Centre.

The schools involved included St Aloysius Junior School in Hebburn and Bede Burn Primary School in Jarrow.

One in three people face being diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime with 15,000 receiving this devastating news every year in North East England.

Situated next to the newly-built cancer treatment facility at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, the £3m Maggies Centre will eventually provide emotional and practical support, resources and information, benefits advice and many other forms of self-help when it is built.

Jane Morland, Northumbrian Water's corporate responsibility team leader, said: "The schools that participated were amazing.

"I am really impressed by the amount of money that has been raised for Maggies and also by the range of colourful and innovative moneyboxes made by the students."