Christmas shoppers were being urged to dig a little deeper into their pockets to help save the lives of the seemingly fit and well.

Youngsters helped fill bags and asked for a donation for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young - CRY - at Sainsbury's store in Hedge End.

It represented part of a drive by Mary Abraham to raise awareness of Sudden Death Syndrome, which claimed the life of her 16-year-old son Philip in 1995.

Mrs Abraham, who works part-time at the supermarket, says that heart defects are much more common than most people imagine.

She explained: "Every week, up to eight youngsters who look healthy die from undetected heart conditions.  A well known case was footballer Terry Yorath's son.  The victims can seem supremely fit but they are most vulnerable when they are playing sport."

The charity has already equipped Bitterne Health Centre with one mobile cardiac screening unit which cost £8000, and it is closing on target to equipe Southampton with a second.