CATRINE man Richard Childs paid back the hospital unit that cared for his new-born daughter by driving a banger round Europe to raise £3,000.

Eilidh, who will be three in October, was in Ayrshire Maternity’s Neonatal Unit for a total of almost two months, after being born 11 weeks early.

Along with friends Matt Bell, Andy Kerr and Jim Kerr, they combined a special celebration for Richard with the lengthy expedition, calling it the Big Four-oh Birthday Banger Bash to Benidorm.

Setting up an appeal on social media, Richard said: “We are going on a voyage of discovery through Europe in a Volkswagen Passat hopefully making it to Benidorm.

“We decided we’d try to raise a bit of cash along the way and decided to raise it for Crosshouse neonatal unit as it’s been good to myself in the past, setting a target of £1,000.”

That target was well and truly smashed and the guys last week made the relatively shorter journey to the unit at Crosshouse Hospital with Eilidh to present a cheque for three times that amount.

Caroline Blake, neonatal services manager, said: “We would like to say a big thank you to Richard and his friends for this wonderful donation. The money raised will really help those babies who need that little bit of extra care – just like Eilidh did. It was lovely to see her and her dad when they came back to visit us.”

Many messages of support, before and after the event, have been posted on the event’s online page.

Hannah Gilpin said: “Great meeting you guys in Barcelona. Congratulations on the money you have made,” while Sandy Wilson added: “Well done boys and a great cause — saved my wee boy’s life three times.”

Among the local companies which donated to the event was Craftsman Cladding of Mauchline, while many friends of the guys also gave to the appeal.