THE father of a man who lost his year-long battle with leukaemia today spoke of his pride after friends raised £14,000 in his son's memory.

Retired Longridge newsagent Jack Hollingworth had hoped to raise a small amount to show his appreciation to the two hospitals which helped treat his son Andrew.

Andrew died shortly after marrying his Langho girlfriend Kirsty Astley, last Christmas.

The money has been divided between the Leukaemia Research Project at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Wirral's Arrowe Park Hospital Haematology ward.

It was raised in a variety of events, including a football match, charity golf competition and a quiz night, while other cash came from donations in lieu of flowers from the funeral and friends asking for cash instead of gifts for birthdays.

The biggest donation came from the Longridge Unaffiliated Mountaineering and Peregrination Society's annual walk, which raised more than £6,000.

Mr Hollingworth said: "They told me that they had one of the best turnouts ever this year, and it had been made well known that the money from the walk would raise money in memory of Andrew, so I can only assume people turned out for him.

"The amount of fund-raising has taken my breath away. Andrew was a clean-living lad, and I think people appreciated that. He was also a dedicated sportsman."

A former Longridge High School pupil, Andrew, 37, was diagnosed with leukaemia in October 2002, just months after meeting Kirsty, 22.

He worked as a retail operations adviser for Spar stores, while Kirsty, a former Clitheroe Royal Grammar School student, was working in the Langho shop while working towards a nursing degree.

The cancer was diagnosed after Andrew was taken to Royal Preston Hospital suffering from a throat infection.