A football team made up of recovering heart patients has raised more than £2,000 to help fund research to prevent people dying from heart conditions.

Two Touch AFC, which is a pilot cardiac rehabilitation programme run by Brian Coleman, a specialist nurse at Whipps Cross Hospital, beat their fundraising target by growing “spaghetti western” style moustaches during November.

Farooq Mohammed, 44, of Barkingside, said: “The fundraiser came about after I underwent a coronary angioplasty earlier this year after a routine medical check-up, and was invited to join the football programme.

“Brian does this in all his own time and with my company es-p, we decided to raise some funds for charity and draw attention to the fantastic work Brian does.”

The team, who hope to organise more fundraising events in the future, managed to raise £2,217 which they donated to the British Heart Foundation last week.