YOUNG Darwen people are raising a toast to Thwaites after the Blackburn brewery donated a portable cardiac monitor for screening heart defects.

The brewery donated the equipment, which was accepted by the local branch of CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) to the Darwen Health Centre.

The monitor is designed to provide screening and the early diagnosis of heart defects.

Irene Wickers and Granville Staff, of CRY, have both lost sons through cardiac arrest.

Irene said: "We have raised thousands of pounds by voluntary activities, through CRY and in memory of Neil and David, in the hope that we can prevent any recurrence of this tragedy.

"We raised money for an ECG machine and this monitor will further support our efforts."

Dr Ajit Gupta, on accepting the monitor, said: "It will go a long way towards diagnosing any problems and also reassuring the local population. It will be extremely useful."