A GROUP of local fundraisers for a bone marrow trust have raised more than £7,000.

The Spennymoor Friends of The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust has worked hard over the past year to raise essential funds for the trust's life- saving work.

The group was founded following an appeal by The Northern Echo, called Battle For Troy, in July last year to find a suitable bone marrow donor for Troy Murdoch, of Spennymoor.

Troy, now six, had been diagnosed with leukaemia and was given a year to live. He is still waiting for a suitable donor.

More than 140 people volunteered to join the register of potential donors at two donor recruitment clinics held in Spennymoor and organised by The Northern Echo.

All the money raised by the Spennymoor Friends will go towards the cost of tissue-typing volunteers who joined the register to help Troy and the thousands of other sufferers whose last chance of life is to find a suitable bone marrow donor.

Carolynne Withers, area manager for the trust, said: "It costs the trust £50 to tissue-type each new donor, and we do not receive any Government or Lottery funding.

"We are very grateful to the Spennymoor Friends and the community for their support.

"Rosebank School in Ferryhill, where Troy attends, has also helped to raise funds for our cause. They can all rest assured that their donations will be put to good and immediate use.