A group of daily newspaper hacks showed their sporting prowess all in the name of charity.

The crack team of netballers from the Hartlepool Mail raised around £1,000 as they lost 29-7 to the Camerons Ladies netball team.

The fundraising event was collecting cash for the Mail’s ‘Lifeline Appeal’ which is aiming to secure £15,000 for a new life-support machine for the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

The victorious opposition included deputy mayor Pam Hargreaves whose mother died aged 61 of a brain haemorrhage, sparking September’s appeal launch.

Other entertainment for the assembled sports lovers included a basketball demonstration by Hartlepool Heat and dance performances.

There were also raffles and a competition to guess how many points the Mail team would score in the match.

Mail editor and netball star Joy Yates said: “It has been a great day and a lot of fun as well.

“The crowd was amazing and it was wonderful to see so many people coming along.

“The main thing, though, is that lots of money has been raised for a very worthy cause.”

The Lifeline Appeal has already topped the £8,000 mark with money from the netball game still to be banked. Such was the success of the event that it could become a regular on the Hartlepool sporting calendar.

The Mail’s aim is to buy a ‘BiPap’ machine – a type of life support ventilation not requiring the patient to have tubes inserted into their lungs.

The money will also help to pay for family comforts for relatives spending hours in hospital waiting for news.