Free heart checks for people aged 14-35 are being offered in Cornwall this autumn - and booking goes live today (Friday September 21).

The Test My Heart cardiac screening has been funded by the charity Cardiac Risk in The Young (CRY). The charity, and the local screening programme, is being supported by Ann and Andy Demaine in memory of their son Thomas.

Thomas, who lived in St Germans, was just 22 when he died of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

The Demaines say that each week in the UK, at last 12 apparently fit and health young people lose their lives as a result of undiagnosed heart conditions.

The couple want to see cardiac screening made available to all young people in the South West and beyond.

Two days of heart screening will take place at St Austell College on November 6 and 7. The screenings will be allocated on a first come first served basis, and bookings can be made by visiting www.testmyheart.org.uk or by calling CRY on 0203 691 0000.

Meanwhile, a bag packing day at Liskeard’s Morrisons store has raised more than £350 for the Thomas Demaine Memorial Fund for CRY.

‘We would like to thank the store and the people of Liskeard for their generosity, as well as that of the volunteers,’ said Ann.

‘This money will be going towards screening in the Liskeard and Bodmin area; a date will be set as soon as we have sufficient funds.’