A NORTH Lancashire sheep farmer displayed his heart of gold with a thank you gesture to the hospital that helped save his life.

Harry Clarke, 75, of Tewitfield, near Carnforth, had triple heart bypass surgery at Blackpool's Lancashire Cardiac Centre in May last year.

The grateful grandfather-of-four returned to Victoria Hospital a year to the day after his op, to present a £500 cheque, which was accepted by his cardiothoracic surgeon Mr Andrew Duncan.

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Mr Clarke and his wife Noeline celebrated their golden wedding in April and, instead of presents, they asked well-wishers to donate to the hospital's Heart of Gold fund.

Praising the care her husband received as "fantastic", Mrs Clarke described the triple bypass op as "like a life insurance".

After two months' recovery, Mr Clarke was able to return to work at the family farm at Borwick, she said, adding: "I laugh and say, I've got a reconditioned husband."

Surgeon Mr Duncan said: "It’s nice to see people looking better and that they remember us and come to see us again.

"Harry had a triple bypass. Most patients who have a bypass have a history of heart disease.

"If they have disease in all three arteries there is a more significant risk of dying. You are looking at a one in two chance of dying prematurely.

"Most patients who have bypass surgery see a significant improvement after surgery."

Lancashire Cardiac Centre's Heart of Gold fund is run by Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s charity, Blue Skies Hospitals Fund.

Ann Hedley, interim head of fundraising, said: "We are very grateful to Mr and Mrs Clarke for their generous donation. It is particularly special because the money was from their golden wedding anniversary. We’d like to say a huge thank you to them."