AN 89-year-old man launched a £752,000 fund-raising campaign for a new cardiology department at the hospital which treated him after a heart attack.

Akbar Alli of Corringway, Ealing was taken to Central Middlesex Hospital after a heart attack in 1995 and decided to take action to improve conditions. A large chunk of the money was donated by GlaxoSmithKline as he knew the director.

He was nominated for a Pride In Our People award offered by the Ealing Gazette in conjunction with Thames Valley University, by his wife, Ameera. She said: "He is a humble and selfless man who has a very high regard for his fellow humans, especially those less fortunate than himself and has always done whatever he could to make better the lives of a great many people."

Mr Alli, who raised the money through the charity, Heartbeat 2000 which he set up, said: "The hospital was really old with doctors carrying out examinations in the corridor. I believe around 40,000 patients benefit a year. I am thrilled in my small way I have contributed to helping so many people."

Mr Alli, a great-grandfather, also helped set up Enterprise Ealing which boosted local business as well as the Ethnic Minority Business Initiative.