BANK staff and friends raised £2,000 in a charity swim, in honour of a brave toddler battling eye cancer.

Employees from the Halifax branch in Tadcaster swam 15 miles in an hour between them, for the Childhood Eye Cancer Trust.

They raised £1,000 in sponsorship and that was then matched by the bank.

Thirteen people took part in the swim at Tadcaster Swimming Baths. The event was prompted by the case of two-year-old Walter Rappe-White, whose dad and grandmother are from Copmanthorpe in York, and who has lost an eye due to the rare condition retinoblastoma.

His grandmother Gill Crook, who took part in the swim, said: "I would just like to thank them all for their efforts and they enjoyed it so much they are now in talks for another fund raising event later on in the year for CHECT."

On September 27, there will be a black tie charity gala dinner at The Novotel hotel in York for CHECT. For tickets, email gillm2@hotmail.co.uk