The Christmas edition of the Dudley, Stourbridge and Halesowen News wraps up seven months of fundraising for LifeSavers, an appeal to raise cash for the critical care unit at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.

Since May the appeal has pulled in £15,000.

News Group editor Jeff Jephcott said: "We have given the critical care unit the best Christmas present ever but this brilliant achievement would not have been possible without the support of all our readers.

"The response has been beyond our wildest dreams as we know there are so many deserving charities out there.

"All along chief reporter Heather Loat who co-ordinated the appeal has plugged LifeSavers as a way for local people to help their local hospital, after all no-one knows when they might need it one day.

"The money is going to buy vital medical equipment for the unit so our readers can give themselves a pat on the back because they are truly a lifesaver."

Readers flooded the offices with donations and there was a whole host of fundraising efforts from a Robbie and Kylie tribute night which netted more than £1,000, to sponsored horse rides which raked in £2,000.

Every week people have written in with heartwarming tales of how the unit saved their life or the lives of loved ones.

Local businesses who have donated TVs, portable phones and items of furniture to kit out the relatives' room.

The papers have also featured profiles on some of the staff - including one of the consultants, physios and a new donor liaison nurse.

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