A grandfather has raised £12,000 for the two Teesside hospitals that cared for his grandson.

Al Kraus, 74, and his late wife Gladys first began fundraising for the Parkside Hospital in the 1970s.

They could not have realised then that, years later, their grandson would need intensive medical treatment for juvenile arthritis.

Having experienced the vital service provided by doctors and nurses, the couple, of Aylton Drive, Brookfield, Middlesbrough, redoubled their efforts to help the North Riding Infirmary and South Cleveland Hospital.

Mr Kraus said: "My grandson Matthew Hutchinson had juvenile arthritis, which affected his limbs and his eyes.

"It was diagnosed when he was about four-and-a-half, and the doctors made special splints of moulded plastic, which he had to wear for bed to keep his legs straight. My wife and I realised that the two hospitals that treated him needed help, so we started raising money for them seven years ago."

What started as a one-off cheese and wine night soon escalated to involve local groups, including the Zetland ladies and the Nationwide building society.

Mr Kraus estimates he has raised about £12,000 over the years.

He has just presented his latest cheque, for £1,500, to North Riding Infirmary's paediatric ophthalmology fund.

Although Matthew, 18, has almost beaten his arthritis, Mr Kraus said he intends to continue fundraising.

"I plan to carry on for as long as I'm able to," he said.

John Clarke, a consultant ophthalmologist at North Riding Infirmary, said: "We are once again grateful to Al for his continued help and support."