Friends of a boy who died from a mysterious heart defect have taken part in a mass screening session to see if they could also have the condition.

Richard Allan was just 16 when he died from what is now known as sudden death syndrome, last year.

His devastated parents, Denis and Mandy Allan, embarked on a mammoth fundraising campaign, to raise awareness of the condition and get more young people tested for it.

They were joined by Jo and Charlie Cross from Ponteland, who also lost their son, David, 26, to the condition.

Both lads were sporty, appeared to be incredibly fit and healthy young people, yet neither were aware they had a hidden heart problem.

A simple ECG would have revealed the condition, thus allowing them the chance of surgery to correct it.

A total of 40 young people went along to the screening session, held by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, CRY, at Asda, Benton, last weekend.

Mandy, of West Moor, was pleased to see people emerging from their test with happy faces. She said :"It was wonderful.  It was lovely to see kids and their parents coming out with smiles, and knowing we have sent them on their way, safe in the knowledge that they don't have a hidden heart condition.

"At the back of our minds, we were thinking if only this had been done before, Richard could have had the chance of life, but that was taken away from him.

"It was quite emotional for Jo and I.  It would have been lovely if we had been among the parents who were coming out smiling."

Unfortunately the screening is not yet available on the NHS, and private screenings cost around £400.

Mandy and Denis hope that the next screening will take place in November.

                                                                                                                                                    With permission Herald & Post