Anyone meeting five-year-old Alex Brown for the first time would never believe the youngster was recovering from major heart surgery.

Like any other little boy his age Alex, from Hall Lane Estate, Willington, is running around playing with his toys without a care in the world.

Two weeks ago he was in intensive care, in Newcastle's Freeman Hospital, after an operation to repair a hole in his heart.

His mum and dad, Diane and Kevin, said they were terrified when they were told four months ago their son was suffering from a heart defect.

Diane said: "We were told it was nothing to worry about and that it was one of the most popular operations that they do. But we thought we were going to lose him." Alex had been diagnosed with asthma when he was one but every time he got a cold it would linger for weeks and he needed antibiotics.

It was after one check-up that Alex's doctor suspected he might have a hole in the heart.

Kevin said: "Apparently it wasn't easy to find. We were asked if we didn't mind letting some student doctors look at him and only two out of the six knew what was wrong.

Alex took everything in his stride and within hours of coming out of surgery was asking for sausages.

He left hospital just three days later surgery and did not want pain killers because they made him feel drowsy and he didn't want to stay in bed. Diane said: "We are very proud of him. It's hard to believe that he's gone through all this and less than a week later he was back on his feet."

Diane and Kevin are now raising money for the Freeman Hospital's charity CHUF (Children's Heart Unit Fund) to say thankyou.

Tonight (Friday) the couple are joined by friends as they go round the pubs in Crook and Willington dressed in fancy dress with collection buckets.

Tomorrow night they will go round the pubs in Bishop Auckland and have also organised a raffle.

Diane said: "We found out the charity funds one of the surgeons and we decided we wanted to give something back because they were marvellous. But I don't think we will ever be able to repay them for what they have done."