A SMALL fundraising team led by South Durham GPs saved the lives of hundreds of heart patients, said a hospital specialist.

Members of the Bishop Auckland Echo Cardiography Appeal met for the final time to hand over the last of three heart machines bought for the town's General Hospital.

The first two - a £175,000 scanner and a portable Echo machine - were paid for through the efforts of supporters in every town and village around the area.

One of the biggest donations was from writer Catherine Cookson, who gave £1,000, while an anonymous donor surprised hospital consultant Dr Ali Mehrzad by sending the same amount.

Dr Mehrzad has raised money for the third machine by taking part in clinical trials and a pilot project allowing GPs open access to the scanning service.

He demonstrated the latest top-of-the-range scanner to appeal chairman Dr George Adan, secretary Tom Dobbin, treasurer Keith Butterfield, auditor Barry Allen and committee member Dr George Pearson.

Dr Mehrzad said: "Hundreds of lives have been saved by the appeal. We have been able to monitor 15,000 cases over the last seven years of which at least 5,000 had serious heart conditions.

"The first scanner was a major breakthrough. Before it arrived, our patients had to be taken to Durham or Newcastle. Sometimes they had a cardiac arrest in the ambulance. This new one will make diagnosis much easier and will be crucial to the early treatment of heart failure."