HUNDREDS of students from the University of York have raised more £10,000 for local and national charities.

Between February 3 and 10, students took part in a range of activities to raise the cash, starting with a 200-strong balloon launch from campus, with a prize for the owner of the balloon to travel farthest – the current leader reached Plumaugat, a small village in northern France.

Other events included a charity auction, karaoke evening and a Mr And Mrs York competition, culminating in the RAG fancy dress parade when hundreds of students collected more than £2,000 worth of donations in York city centre.

RAG Week’s most adventurous activity, originally planned for February 4, but rescheduled due to snow, took place on February 25.

“Lost” saw two coachloads of students taken to Snowdonia and Alnwick and tasked with getting back to campus while collecting as much money as possible on the way.

Overall, RAG Week 2012 raised £10,500. This year money raised will go to Martin House Hospice, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Alzheimer's Society, War Child, YUSU Voluteering and Refugee Action York.