Eight darts supremos aimed for more than the highest score during a 24-hour marathon game at a Bowers Gifford pub.

Bull's-eye - the pub darts players whose marathon stint raised more than £1,000. Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY 85KR49

They helped to raise more than £1,000 to send terminally ill four-year-old Jessica Jones on the holiday of a lifetime.

The Echo revealed last week the plight of brave Jessica, and how fundraising for her had helped establish a charity in Basildon to help other youngsters' dreams come true.

Colin Rawlinson, assistant manager of the Gun pub, London Road, Bowers Gifford, told of the stamina it took to play darts through the night.

He said: "At 6am, that's when the tiredness started kicking in. "There were people around to watch during the evening but overnight there were just the players, the adjudicator and scorer."

He added: "When we have collected all the money from the marathon, we are hoping to start our own charity called Children's Wishing Well for local Essex children in the same position."

Published Tuesday, March 19, 2002