THE Hamblett School's Millennium Fund is set to receive a scorching boost, thanks to local bobby PC Keith Flanagan.

Keith swopped pounding the beat for the heat of the Sahara Desert when he took part in the gruelling Marathon de Sables walk.

He completed the 143-mile trek in six days - sometimes in temperatures as high as 130 degrees - with the backing of local businessman Tom Gerrard of Gerrard Bram.

And although he hasn't yet accumulated all the money raised by individual sponsorship pledges, Keith says he will be donating several thousand pounds to the school fund, which will be used to help build a sports hall for the Hamblett children.

Now he is busy planning to tackle the walk again in partnership with brother Terry, who is also a policeman based at Kirkby station.

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