SHEILA Irving has hit her goal of raising £6,000 to buy a defibrillator for the residents of Great Harwood -- after 12 months of frantic fundraising.

Though Sheila hasn't done the work alone, she has had her two best friends at her side helping her every step of the way.

Lynn Taylor of the Walmsley Arms, Queen Street and Maureen Smith of the Plough, Queen Street, both Great Harwood, have both helped Sheila notch up the fantastic figure by raising £1,000 each for the heart machine.

Maureen, of the Plough, said: "We were £30 off reaching £1,000, so one very kind customer dug into his pocket and gave us his last £30. It is people like this that make it all worth while. We had various quiz nights and charity nights and, before we knew it, the money was rolling in."

Sheila has been raising the money to help take the pressure off the ambulance service and to give something back to her town.

Although Sheila has reached her main target she isn't home and dry yet, as she has to now raise another £1,000 to train people to use the defibrillator and then £1,000 per year to keep on top of the training for the volunteer responders.

Sheila said: "Although it looks like I have been at the front of all the fundraising, There is no way I could have done it without all of my friends. There has been so many people involved. in our year long plight to raise the money it is unbelievable! I can't sit back and relax just yet because I will be fundraising for a long time to keep the machine in action.

"We have had a lot of fun raising the money and my husband has never looked as worn out after being involved in so many activities. We are still really busy with lots more Fundraising activities that are due to take place in the near future, so we are optimistic about raising the final £1,000."