THE family of a murder victim has raised money to buy an oxygen analyser for Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The monitor cost more than £400 and will be used in the Intensive Treatment Unit (ITU) where Justina Harrison died two years ago.

Miss Harrison, 23, was killed in January 2000 after a night out in Darlington. John Rowland of Haughton Road, Darlington was later jailed for her murder.

To mark the second anniversary of his cousin's death, Patrick Townsend and fellow members of the Lone Star Living History Group raised money for the equipment.

The 23-strong party of actors have been performing their comical shows across the region to educate people about 19th Century Wild West America and, at the same time, have raised funds for the hospital.

The group's members, who are aged from 16 to 60, have raised more than £1000 over the years. and last year they bought a monitor for the Special Care Baby Unit.

One of their most recent fundraising shows was held at the revamped Odeon cinema.

"I think everybody, including the staff at the cinema, can be proud of what we have achieved," said Mr Townsend.

The hospital unit until now only had one oxygen analyser, and the new addition will be on permanent stand-by.

Dianne Cruickshank, Unit Sister in ITU, said the equipment would be a welcome addition to the hospital.

"It is an essential piece of equipment for anyone who is on a ventilator.

"This new one means we will have a backup should our existing one go down."