CHARITY hairdressers have raised £2,000 with a fundraising ball to help tackle an illness which is close to their hearts.

Clare Jackson and Laura Robinson, of Phab Hair and Beauty, in Spennymoor, have backed the work of Diabetes UK.

The fundraising scheme was arranged after Miss Robinson, of Spennymoor, was diagnosed with type one diabetes two years ago.

They joined with the rest of the salon staff to host the ball at Spennymoor Town Hall which featured a singer, comedian, disco and raffle.

It was thought that the event would raise £1,500 to help the charity in its work against diabetes.

Before she was diagnosed, Miss Robinson, 21, started to drink lots of water and she also lost a lot of weight.

She said: “We were over the moon to raise so much money. We didn’t think that we would raise so much. It was fantastic.

“All of the money raised is to go to Diabetes UK and it is to be used within the North-East in order to help people with the illness.”

The Spennymoor hairdressers hope to arrange further fundraising events for Diabetes UK.

Louise Simonian, regional fundraiser for Diabetes UK in the Northern and Yorkshire region, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Laura, Clare and their colleagues.

“The money raised will support cutting edge research into the prevention of hypos and it will also support a national research study on changing behaviours to improve diabetes care.”