Oakworth dad Dave Hudson is proving he’s all heart.

He is dressing as Hartley Heart and taking part in Sunday’s Mascot Gold Cup.

Motor mechanic Mr Hudson is donning the Heart Research UK costume to raise cash for the charity.

His 18-year-old son, Josh, was born with a rare heart condition – transposition of the arteries – and has been in and out of hospital all his life.

Although the condition is controlled, Josh – an animal management student at Craven College in Skipton – has been told he will need surgery to stop a leak in his heart valve.

He took part in the Mascot Gold Cup at Wetherby racecourse last year as Hartley Heart, and will be competing again – alongside his dad – on Sunday, this time for Manorlands.

Mr Hudson, 50, said: “I have lost two stone in the past 12 months through doing a lot of walking so, apart from being part of my fitness plan, the mascot race will also help raise important funds for a good cause helping research into conditions like Josh’s.”

Barbara Harpham, of Heart Research UK, said: “It’s great Dave has decided to be our mascot Hartley. Josh was fantastic in the race last year so we’re delighted his father has decided to follow in his footsteps. Without support from people like Dave and Josh, we would not be able to carry on funding pioneering research helping to find new heart treatments.”