The money goes towards the purchase of a cerebral function monitor for the hospital's Gosset ward, which cares for newborn babies.

Representatives of some of the organisations and individuals who helped raise the money, including the John Henry Youth Alliance, Northampton Swimming Club, Northampton Trampoline Club and runner Simon Blackham, visited the hospital to hand over the cheque.

The equipment will be used to monitor brain function and seizures in newborn babies.

Northampton General Hospital consultant neo-natologist Fiona Thompson said: "A huge thank-you to all the people of all ages who took part through their chosen sport to raise this very significant sum of money which will be used to benefit Northampton's babies."

Chron assistant editor Steve Pitts said: "We are very grateful to those people who put in the time and effort to raise this money.

"We set out specifically to get children involved and it was great to see so many young footballers, swimmers and other children play their part in raising this money.

"I'd particularly like to say thank-you to Bob Welsh, who has since moved away from Northampton but put in a tremendous effort to help raise a fantastic sum through the John Henry Youth Alliance and his boys' club Falcons."

Mr Welsh organised a six-a-side tournament involving hundreds of young footballers, while the swimming club staged a sponsored swim that had to be hastily re-organised following last summer's water crisis in Northampton.

Mr Blackham raised £700 with a sponsored run, while events such as the trampoline club collecting used mobile phones to cash in helped the effort.

Mr Pitts added: "It was heart-warming to see so many people doing their bit to help this good cause."