A woman's fundraising bid to help newborn babies breath easy has received a cash donation of £500 from Kent Police’s Property Fund.

The Breathe4Pembury is seeking to raise £6,000 to buy a new respiratory machine for Tunbridge Wells Hospital's neonatal ward.

Thanks to the money gifted at Tonbridge Police Station on Friday (July 22), organiser Rachel Burns says the total has now reached just under £4,000.

The Kings Hill mum-of-two said: "This money will be used to save lives in the future and I am grateful that Kent Police has donated it to us."

Mrs Burns, 34, is taking on a new sporting challenge each month to raise money for a new Vapotherm respiratory which she credits with saving the life of her daughter Ava.

Now attending Mereworth Pre-School, the three-year-old spent the first four days of her life in hospital after suffering from meconium aspiration syndrome, meaning she inhaled some of her early faeces while still inside her mum and needed help breathing.

So far Mrs Burns has taken on marathon 26.2 mile walk around Pembury and Tunbridge Wells, and a 7km mud run, along with several other challenges.

She added:"This is a cause that is extremely close to my heart, as I am sure it is for many parents living across West Kent. This money takes us even closer to making our target and I am looking forward to getting the respiratory machine purchased as soon as possible."

The Kent Police property fund raises money from the sale of items seized during police operations and unclaimed property at auction.

It is then distributed amongst charities that provide a service to the people of Kent.

For more information on Breath4Pembury, click here.