A woman who was told the NHS could not afford the £80,000 equipment needed to treat her debilitating heart condition is raising the money to buy the machine herself.

Bishop Auckland-born Melanie Brett refused private treatment and has now raised half the cost of the new equipment in less than a month.

For the past two years, the 30-year-old mother-of-two she has suffered from irregular heartbeats which can race up to 250 beats per minute, dizziness and nausea.

During her latest spell in the Derriford hospital in Plymouth, she was told an operation would be too risky without specialist equipment which can map heartbeats and predict irregularities.

But the NHS said it could not afford to buy the equipment which costs £80,000 and so Ms Brett decided to raise the money herself and collected an amazing £35,000 in just four days.

The total now stands at £43,000 thanks to Ms Brett's determination. Her father, Larry, who lives in Darlington is angry that his daughter is having to fund the NHS.

Mr Brett, who served in the navy during the Gulf War said: "I was brought up in Newton Aycliffe, Tony Blair's constituency, and now live in Darlington, the home of the health secretary and I can not believe what has happened to Melanie.

"Melanie needs this machinery to improve her quality of life and I can not believe because of budgets the NHS has not been able to provide this for her and others like her.

"All they have said is they can not afford it but in such a short time she has managed to raise more than half of the funds needed."

Richard Wysome, the chairman of the cardiac charity Heartswell in the South-West said doctors had tried to persuade the NHS to buy one of the machines before.

He said: "Melanie's efforts so far have been spectacular. The doctors have tried to persuade the NHS to buy this machine but funds have never become available."

Anyone who would like to donate money to the Heartswell/Melanie Brett appeal can call (01752) 315930.