SPORTING staff in the North East have been getting in the Olympic spirit to raise money for a well-loved local charity.

Gordon Brown Law Firm hosted an evening of Olympic fun at the It’s a Knockout-style business games to raise funds for the Percy Hedley Foundation.

The Newcastle lawyers battled it out with other local businesses including Northumbrian Water, Lloyds TSB Commercial, Bdaily, Ward Hadaway, Asian Business Connections, Sarah Mains Residential, Sanderson Weatherall, Orchard Systems and Your Homes Newcastle in the hope of claiming the gold.

The competitors took part in a range of Olympic-themed games in the arena at the Percy Hedley Sports Academy.

Northumbrian Water staff were crowned as winners of the event and will be presented with their award at the Alternative Business Awards. For 2012 only, the awards have been renamed the Alternative Business Olympics and will be held at the Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre in September.

The teams’ entrance fees and individual sponsorships will all go to the Percy Hedley Foundation to support a new appeal aimed at developing its facilities at its Killingworth site which will include a new regional hydrotherapy centre.

Wendy Peffers, marketing manager at Gordon Brown Law Firm, said: “The evening was a great success with fun had by all. Competitors enjoyed the night as well as spectators and we raised much- needed funds for a great charity which is what it was all about.

“We have had the pleasure of working with the Percy Hedley Foundation for quite some time now and we hope that the money raised will help them to continue the important work that they do.”

Sheila Coltman, fundraising manager from Percy Hedley, said: “I’m delighted that Gordon Brown Law Firm teamed up with us to organise this great event. We are also very grateful to all of the businesses that took part – the games weren’t easy but all the money will go to a very worthwhile cause!”