KICKBOXERS have rallied to fundraise for a fellow fighter to help to cover the cost of an operation for his dog.

Dave Cunliffe and Dale Hudson decided to help former training partner Ryan McKee after reading of his plight on Facebook.

The three trained together at The Lab gym, at Faverdale, Darlington, several years ago but have since lost touch.

They were reunited when Mr McKee made a plea for help to cover the cost of an operation for his Jack Russell dog, Monty, on social media.

Monty needs an operation, thought to cost £500, on one of his legs. Unable to raise the money he pleaded for help.

Mr Cunliffe, 29, of Beech Crescent, Ferryhill, and Mr Hudson, 32, of Bewick Crescent, Newton Aycliffe, have raised £400 with collections tins in their home towns.

Mr Cunliffe said: “He’s a nice bloke and he rescued Monty from a building site in Hartlepool and he means a lot to him.

“We know Ryan from training in Brazilian jujitsu but he keeps himself to himself and so we thought we would help him out.”

Mr McKee, 35, of York, has four dogs and he hopes to be able to arrange the operation in the next couple of weeks.

He said: “What they are doing is amazing.

“I put it out on Facebook and I got relies from Dave and Dale saying that they wanted to help. I didn’t believe people like this existed.”