A PATIENT whose life was saved by the skill of a North-East brain surgeon has raised more than £3,000 for hospital funds.

Andrew Buckle completed a marathon coast-to-coast cycle ride to say thank you to the health professionals who saved his life.

The money will be used to buy neurosurgery equipment for the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, and to develop team skills at the hospital.

In 1999, Mr Buckle, 25, from Danby in North Yorkshire, was beginning a career as a chef when tiredness and lapses of concentration forced him to leave the job he loved.

Tests showed that he had a brain tumour.

Consultant neurosurgeon Phillip Kane, from Middlesbrough General Hospital carried out an operation to reduce the pressure on Mr Buckle's brain.

A short time later he had a further major operation to remove the tumour and afterwards he had to undergo weeks of radiotherapy treatment.

Four years after surgery Mr Buckle has embarked on a new career as a trainee accountant.

He said he was immensely grateful to everyone at Middlesbrough General's neurosciences department and the radiotherapy department at the James Cook University Hospital.

To demonstrate his gratitude, he and his friend Jonathan Thompson cycled from Whitehaven, in Cumbria to Sunderland, raising thousands of pounds.

Last week, Mr Buckle and his mother, Lois, visited Mr Kane to hand over a cheque. And they got the best possible news from the specialist while they were there.

After studying Mr Buckle's latest results Mr Kane told him there was no evidence of the tumour.

Mr Buckle said: "I am so grateful to everyone who help to treat me, and I wanted to find a way to say thank you."

Mr Kane said: "Andrew and Jonathan have done a fantastic job raising this money which we will use to buy state-of-the-art equipment and develop the skills of all of our team.

"I am delighted Andrew has made such a good recovery.

"He is a shining example of how life can go on and even improve after brain tumour surgery."