EIGHT years ago Romsey youngster Bianca-Cherie Wood was undergoing life-saving heart surgery.

But nine years on at Serendipity Sam's Romsey play centre she was the picture of health, running around having fun before receiving a cheque on behalf of the cardiac ward that saved her.

The money - £1,300 - was raised by the indoor play centre for Wessex Heartbeat, the charity which supports the cardiac ward at Southampton General Hospital.

For seven days during the centre's Raise the Heartbeat Week, part of the entrance fee was donated, special heart-shaped cookies were sold and collections made.

Children and adults were also encouraged to take part in activities aimed at keeping people fit and active. The money was officially handed over to Peter Wickham, the fundraising manager at Heartbeat, and Bianca-Cherie, of Anderson Close, who was born with a faulty heart valve.