Green support services sector company eaga plc has raised £3,800 for Cancer Research UK after staging a major football tournament in North Shields.

More than 50 entries, from as far away as Belfast and including a number of women’s teams, pitched up at the JJB Soccer Dome to take part.

Teams came from within eaga - a Newcastle-based FTSE 250 company - its heating and insulation subsidiaries, contractors and suppliers.

Rivalry was friendly but competitive, with eaga’s Belfast-based subsidiary HEAT winning the men’s final and the women’s trophy going to a team from eaga in Newcastle.

Carol Bennett, Area Volunteer Manager for Cancer Research UK, said: “Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer, which is why fund-raising is so important. The money raised by eaga will help fund work by scientists at the Northern Institute of Cancer Research. These are the guys who can make real breakthroughs, so I would like to say a huge thank you to all those who took part.”

Event organiser and eaga Manager, Kim Steward, added: “We have supported Cancer Research UK in the past, but I was keen to do more. The response from my colleagues and so many of our business partners was outstanding. They turned out on a Sunday and made the day great fun and highly rewarding. This is certainly an event worth while repeating.”

John Clough MBE, eaga plc Chief Executive, said: “As a former employee-owned organisation we have always encouraged our staff to get involved in local community-based initiatives and have supported their efforts wherever possible. This was very much one of those employee-led events, with staff from right across our divisions showing just how much eaga cares for our communities. It was also great to see so many of those who partner with us as contractors and suppliers, joining in to make a difference.”