FOUR local friends have raised more than £1,500 in aid of Barnsley Hospital charity's Tiny Hearts appeal.

Scott Copeland, Matt Hanwell, Mark Cassell and Ben Hall, all aged 26, have been taking part in several fundraising challenges over recent months to raise awareness and support for the £1m appeal which aims to build a new special care baby unit at the hospital.

They recently completed the big finale - the Castle Howard Gauntlet triathlon. Although they still have donations arriving, the friends, who all live in the Barnsley area, have already raised £1,554 for the appeal.

** The full story is in the Barnsley Chronicle, dated August 21. **