REGULARS at a pub near York made a special fundraising effort to thank the doctors and nurses who look after the publican's young daughter.

Elizabeth Richardson, eight, whose parents Kirsty and Nigel run the Carpenter's Arms at Fangfoss, near York, has been in and out of hospital all her life because of a severe kidney problem.

Elizabeth suffers from nephrotic syndrome, which means she needs dialysis at St James's Hospital, in Leeds, three times a week and has tubes permanently inserted in her chest.

She has lessons at home because she is unable to go to school more than once a month. Her blood pressure can rocket without warning and her parents have been told she will need a kidney transplant in a couple of years.

Regulars at the pub have now raised almost £3,500 for the hospital's dialysis unit.

Nigel, who has been at the Carpenter's Arms for a year, said: "The regulars have been really supportive from the off as soon as they knew about Elizabeth's illness, and she thinks what they've done is absolutely brilliant. Because of the dialysis she has two permanent lines in her chest so she has to be careful what she does.

"But she's a happy little kid and she tries not to let it get her down that she's so restricted."

Among other fundraisers was Sarah Barker, from Fangfoss, who ran the London Marathon in aid of the unit.

The rest of the money was raised through a variety of means including a charity auction, sponsored head shave, karaoke night and a bottle on the bar in which £215 was collected.