A FARMER has used his 60th birthday to raise money for his local hospital.

Instead of buying presents, friends and relatives of William Alderson donated a total of £320 to the Friarage Hospital and Rutson Rehabilitation Centre, in Northallerton.

Mr Alderson, of Girsby, near Northallerton, suffered a bad accident a few years ago and staff nursed him back to health.

Now fit and well, he said: "I don't need a lot of presents at my age and, though it's lovely to receive them, I wanted to give something back and say thank you."

Staff nurse Jo Coxon, of the Friarage accident and emergency unit, said: "We would like to say a big thank you to William for his help and for giving up his birthday treats to benefit future patients visiting accident and emergency.

"We will be using the money to improve the resuscitation room equipment."

Health care assistant Sheila Claxton, from the Rutson, who helped look after Mr Alderson, said their money would be spent on physiotherapy equipment