THE Little Hulton hero who helped save a toddlers life has raised more than thousand pounds in a day to buy life saving equipment.

Security guard Ronnie Walker rushed to the aid of Toni Rimavicius when her two-year-old daughter Ava-Mai collapsed from hypoglycaemic shock in Tesco in May.

His quick actions helped keep the toddler safe before paramedics arrived.

She was then taken to Royal Bolton Hospital, where doctors discovered she had low blood sugar and had gone into hypoglycaemic shock.

Following the traumatic incident the 51-year-old, of Eastham Way, petitioned for a defibrillator and medical screens at the store in Longcauseway, Farnworth.

His ambition has now been achieved after raising £1,166 in just one day.

He said: "When we managed to raise all the money I was absolutely flabbergasted.

"A lot of the community were behind me and had read the story of what happened in the paper but when I found out how much we had got I hit the roof.

"I'm glad we also raised enough to get the screens. When Ava-Mai was on the floor in shock people were walking over her and stopping to look, it was rather degrading.

"I'm in contact with Ava-Mai and her family all the time, they are like family now. Ava-Mai always comes in store and smiles and waves at me.

"A lot of good has come out of it."

Mr Walker originally petitioned Tesco to purchase the equipment but due to it not being company policy yet, decided it were quicker to fundraise himself.

The fundraising day took place earlier in the month and Mr Walker was joined by friends and families in store for activities including a raffle, face painting, cake sale and bag packing on the till.

Prizes for the raffle were donated by local businesses.

Miss Rimavicius, 27, of Boscombe Gardens, was also there to help fundraise with Ava-Mai and her eldest sister 10-year-old Demi-Lea.

She said: "Wc are really good friends now after what he did for us and I always told him if he needed our help we will be there.

"For all the community to come together and help raise the funds is fantastic."

Mr Walker's hard work has now inspired other Tesco stores to look into purchasing a defibrillators.

He added: "On the back of this other Tesco's are now taking the issue of defibrillators on board and are looking at fundraising days in store. It's a back ask, what they are doing, but they are following in my footsteps.

"This is my quest done now."