INSPIRED by the heartache of being separated from their newborn son, a family have raised almost £7,000 for the hospitals that saved his life.

Alfie Jack Simpson was born six weeks prematurely at Furness General Hospital to parents Jill and Stuart, but was quickly whisked away to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

To thank those who cared for their son, the family transformed their lambing barn into a disco extravagansa to try and save other new parents the same pain.

Mrs Simpson, of High Farm, Arrad Foot, said: "Despite his early arrival, Alfie is now as fit and healthy as any other child of his age, but without the care he received at both Lancaster and Barrow, he wouldn't be here today.

"We organised our sheep shed night to give something back and having had to endure the indescribable pain of being separated from Alfie so early in his life, we couldn't think of anything better than to provide funds to furnish the new unit's parents room.

"We can't believe the amount of money the evening raised. We are extremely grateful to everyone who came and to everyone who donated items for the raffle and auction."

The proud parents, along with Alfie's four sisters Katie, 19, Hayley, 16, Courtney, 9, and Jodie, 8, raised a total of £6,880.80.

The money raised will go towards the Bayb appeal for a parents room in the new maternity unit at FGH, available for those whose babies are in the special care baby unit.

Sascha Wells, director of midwifery for the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Jill and Stuart's donation is a fantastic gift that is set to make a real difference.

"The parents room in the new unit, like the parents room in the current maternity unit at FGH, is a facility that enables us to help prepare new mums and dads for the transition home.

"We are very thankful to them both for their enormous effort, generosity and kind-heartedness."

The Bayb's Maternity Appeal launched in February and now stands at more than £150,000, more than halfway to its £250,000 target.

It aims to fund additional features to the unity which falls outside the remit of what the NHS can fund, in order to give the unit a homely feel for local families and newborns.