IN A hard 24 hours, a group of darts players at the Rose and Crown, Sandford, raised £5,104.12 for Devon Air Ambulance Trust.

With recent donations and Gift Aid funding, the final total could be around £6,000.

A team of 17 dart players took it in turns to throw the darts and to score over a weekend in October. Receiving the cheque for DAAT on Saturday evening at the pub, Louise Newbery said it costs in the region of £4.5 million a year to keep both helicopters flying.

One mission, a call-out, costs about £3,300, so fundraising such as at the Rose and Crown was vitally important and much appreciated.

Steve Yelland, one of the organisers of the marathon, said it had been inspired by the death of young Samuel Crocker in Crediton.

Thanking everyone involved, Steve said special thanks had to go to Jill and Andy of the Rose and Crown for keeping the team “fed and watered” through the whole time.

Sue Read