SCHOOLBOY Kieron Grove was at the start of a 24 hour darts marathon on Saturday evening to raise funds for research into children's heart problems.

The five-year-old from Marlborough was diagnosed when he was only a few months old with a rare condition called Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, which causes a very rapid heart beat.

As a baby, Kieron's heartbeat reached 300 a minute, when the normal rate is between 60-80, and it could have led to palpitations and, eventually heart failure, if left untreated.

Doctors took the drastic step of stopping his heart and starting it again which, said Kieron's mother Connie, appeared to have remedied the problem.

Mrs Grove and her husband Dave were told by specialist at the former Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon that a heart could sometimes be likened to a computer with a malfunction. They were told that just like with a computer one solution was to switch it off and start it again.

Mrs Grove said: "We were told by the consultants they would probably have to do this.

"We were at the PMH when they told us that they were going to stop his heart and then start it again.

"We both dozed off and by the time we woke up it was all over."

Kieron still has the condition, which is caused by the heart having an extra electrical pathway between the upper and lower chambers of the heart.

His mum said: "He still has it but it is not causing any problems at the moment."

The syndrome is not genetic the family has been told and Kieron's brother is perfectly healthy.

One baby in every thousand is born with a degree of Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome, which is one of the conditions a charity called Cardiac Risk in the Young is promoting better awareness of.

Former England cricketer Ian Botham is president of CRY and Olympic rower Sir Steve Redgrave is one of its patrons.

CRY runs its own centre for sports cardiology at the British Olympic Medical Centre and funds research.

At the weekend members of the Marlborough Town FC darts teams held a 24 hour marathon to raise funds for CRY.

The Mayor of Marlborough and his wife, Coun Bill and Tricia Cavill, joined Kieron at the start of the marathon at the football club on Saturday evening and returned to watch the last darts thrown on Sunday.

Mr and Mrs Grove, who live in Five Stiles Road with Kieron and his brother Liam, eight, helped organise the fundraising event and the father took part in the marathon.

It is hoped it has raised between £1,200 and £1,400 for CRY.

nkerton@newswilts.co.uk