A TEAM of firefighters has raised more than £2,000 to help a youngster walk tall for the first time.

Crew members from stations across County Durham cycled the 145-mile coast-to-coast route to support the recovery of Thomas Brennan, who had an operation to fix his spastic diplegic cerebral palsy in the US last summer.

Allan Hobson, Andy Burns, Neale Bulbeck, Simon Waggott, Gary Tough, Mick Hopper and Darren Abson all took part in the cross-country effort.

Later, four of the team, plus Graham Chaytor and David Newton, rode exercise bikes or ran on treadmills to cover the combined distance of the coast-to-coast and a marathon.

The final fundraising total was more than £2,250.

Jodie Bussey, Thomas’ mother, thanked those involved for their efforts.

Five-year-old Thomas, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, who called his condition his “crazy legs”, is recovering well and now able to walk without pain.