THE Take Heart Support Group has received a double funding boost totalling £1,427 to help recovering heart patients.

Seven members of the Take Heart support groups in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, and Guisborough, raised £481 in the Great North Walk.

The group, which offers help and encouragement to recovering cardiac patients, has also received £946 from Cleveland Foundation's Neighbourhood Renewal Community Chest.

The grant will help buy additional exercise equipment in the Middlesbrough area, including Coulby Newham, Whinney Banks and North Ormesby, which cater for more than 120 recovering patients each week.

Group spokesman David Armstrong said: "With this money we will be able to improve facilities at the classes, which are attended by a range of recovering patients, whose ages go from the mid-40s to well into the mid-80s, all intent on proving there is life after a heart attack."