A jockey who writes a racing column for a regional newspaper has thanked readers who helped him raise £27,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Niall Hannity, who writes a column for the Northern Echo, returned to horse racing for the first time in seven years last week to take part in Cheltenham Festival’s charity race.

He ran his last race at Aintree nearly seven years ago and has been racing correspondent for the Echo ever since, as well as working as a broadcast journalist for Racing UK and William Hill Radio.

By taking part in the race he raised £10,000 from sponsorship for Cancer Research UK.

Bookmakers William Hill then surprised him by donating a further £12,000, and Sky Bet added another £5,000 to the total.

Said Niall: “I didn’t expect them to do this at all.

“It’s an amazing total. So thanks to everybody who helped us raise this amount. It’s for a charity which affects us all.

“In three years, the Cheltenham charity race has raised over half a million pounds.

“People have said ‘well done’ for raising the money.

“But it’s everybody who donated the money – and all The Northern Echo readers who donated money – who should be told well done.”

Niall returned to the sport following a disciplined regime which saw him lose three stone. He regained his fitness with the help of a fitness coach and nutritionist.

On his first day back racing he came fourth in the St Patrick’s Day Derby on a horse called Crunch.