A heart charity is appealing to start community volunteer groups in the area.

British Heart Foundation is calling on people in Hendon and Barnet to start up community volunteerr groups to support the 33,600 people across the borough fighting heart disease.

The groups are based in the community and do a great deal of things to support the charity from running fundraising events to supporting schools and local businesses and organising collections.

The support they offer go towards people like Laura, 15, who was born with complex Cyanotic heart disease, which consists of five different congenital heart defects.

At just three days old she had her first operation and has had countless operations since, and the condition means she struggles to climb stairs and has not been able to attend maths lessons in her school until recently, due to them being at the top of the school building.

Nicola Reavey, BHF fundraising manager for North, Central, East and West London, said: "By starting a community volunteer group you can help us fund the research that’s so desperately needed to bring us closer to beating heart disease.

"Together we can save more lives, and it’s a fantastic way to meet new people and make a real difference in your community!"

For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk/localfundraising