A FAMILY who lost their baby son to meningitis have helped raised funds to mark the year of what would have been his 21st birthday.

Phil and Debbie Stott, from Newton-le-Willows, were left devastated by the death of Martin in 1995. He would have been 21 in November last year.

In his memory the Stott family, along with friends and fellow members of Phil's at the North West Casual Classics Car Club, have raised money for the Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

With the club also entering its 21st year, Phil says it was viewed as the perfect opportunity to support the cause, setting an initial target of £500.

At events throughout the season, fundraising efforts included members of the club sold hand-crafted goods and holding raffles.

The club smashed its target with Phil presenting cheque for £2,001.17 to Katherine Harding, from the Alder Hey's charity group at the club's November meeting.

"We've done bits of fundraising before for them but nothing like this," said Phil, 49.

"At the club we do a lot of fundraising for various charities and some of the members said why don't we adopt it for the year.

"It was a traumatic time for us. Martin was treated at Alder Hey when he died and the hospital were very good with us at the time.

"And with them getting a new building they need funds and with it being 21 years that made an ideal scenario for some fundraising.

"We got someone to come down from Alder Hey to do a cheque presentation and the £2,000 will help children with cancer in hospital so it's all worthwhile."