A YOUNG Manchester United fan who suffers from severe diabetes and epilepsy, has put his footballing loyalties to good use to raise money for a hospital.

Four-year-old Peter Buckle, of Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, won a football signed by the Newcastle United squad in a raffle at Ramshaw School, where he started in September.

But because of his allegiances, and those of his families, the ball was of no use to him, so he decided to use it to raise funds.

He and his mother, Judith, decided to use the village pubs' two busiest days of the year, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, to sell raffle tickets and raise money for the diabetes unit at Bishop Auckland General Hospital, which he visits every three months.

And Peter, known to locals as "Bruisy", proved a huge hit, raking in £213, which will be used on trips away and on new equipment.

Judith said: "Everybody around the village knows Peter and knows what he goes through with his diabetes and epilepsy, so they weren't after the football, they just wanted to help Peter."

She praised the hospital's diabetes unit, which she said helps youngsters like Peter learn that there are others like themselves who go through the same things