A MAYOR has handed over a cheque for £3,500 to the hospital that saved her granddaughter's life.

Five-year-old Emily Cooney was seriously ill with meningitis two years ago and her family had an anxious ten-day wait before they knew whether she would survive.

But she successfully fought the illness, at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and this week joined her grandmother, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Mayor Norah Cooney, to thank the staff who cared for her.

Councillor Cooney said: "We were eternally grateful for the work they did."

The hospital's Children's Fund was Coun Cooney's charity choice when she was installed as mayor last May.

The presentation was one of her final duties in her term of office, which ends today.

"I'm so pleased to have raised this marvellous amount," she said. "We've had several fundraising events, but I've also had such a lot of people who have given me cheques or £20 notes just simply to go towards the fund."

Consultant paediatrician Dr Jonathan Wyllie said: "This very generous donation will help children like Emily in the future."